Diego Simeone called out for disrespecting Brendan Rodgers after Celtic vs Atletico Madrid game

Atletico Madrid manager Diego Simeone has been criticised for a lack of sportsmanship after he barely acknowledged Celtic manager Brendan Rodgers following their Champions League clash.

Celtic picked up their first Champions League point of the 2023/24 season on Wednesday night, but they arguably should have grabbed all three after going ahead twice in the entertaining Group E tie.

Kyogo Furuhashi sent Celtic Park into delirium in the fourth minute after some great build-up play.

Antoine Griezmann soon equalised for Simeone's men when he converted a penalty at the second attempt, but Celtic took the lead again three minutes later through Luis Palma, who fired past Jan Oblak with a powerful effort.

🇭🇳 | 𝙇𝙪𝙞𝙨 𝙋𝙖𝙡𝙢𝙖 - 𝘾𝙚𝙡𝙩𝙞𝙘

I'm really liking the look of Luis Palma so far following the arrival of the Honduran in the summer.

A goal contribution every 82 minutes & unlucky not to have even more.

A dangerous, dangerous player 👊🏽pic.twitter.com/qZDMp6vyZj

— Everything Celtic (@aboutceltic) October 25, 2023

Atletico bounced back again thanks to a second-half finish from former Chelsea and Juventus striker Alvaro Morata, and they managed to hold on, despite a late surge from the home side.

After the full-time whistle, an agitated Diego Simeone was far from satisfied with the outcome.

In fact, he almost snubbed Brendan Rodgers' handshake before walking straight down the tunnel. Check out the incident below.

Celtic pick up their first #UCL point of the season against Atléico Madrid, and Diego Simeone wasn't sticking around to shake hands afterwards 👀 pic.twitter.com/bld5WOW3Td

— Football on TNT Sports (@footballontnt) October 25, 2023

One fan commented on the incident, saying: "Classless from Simeone tonight...barely shook Rodgers hand. Complete lack of sportsmanship and class."

A second wrote: "Sickening behaviour by Simeone - surely UEFA will throw the book at him?" while a third added: "Bit ignorant at the end from Simeone towards Rodgers."

Simeone has previously expressed his opinion on shaking hands after a game.

Back in 2021, after Liverpool beat Atletico Madrid 3-2 at the Wanda Metropolitano, he refrained from shaking hands with Jurgen Klopp and instead darted down the tunnel.

Klopp was left looking a little confused as a result, hilariously holding his thumb up as he waited for Simeone.

A week later and Simeone explained that he isn't keen on shaking hands with opposition managers after the game because he feels it brings about a "falseness".

He said: "I don’t like the greeting after the match because they are the emotions of two sides in different emotional minds. I know in the UK it is a custom but I don’t share it and I don’t like the falseness it may include.

“I don’t know Klopp as a person very well but I know he is a great coach who has done great work at every club he has been at.”

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