Atletico Madrid coach Diego Simeone was handed an eight-match touchline ban by the Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) yesterday following his dismissal and angry reaction in the Spanish Super Cup against Real Madrid.

The Argentine was sanctioned with four games for slapping the fourth official on the back of the head after his first-half dismissal on Friday, two for protesting, one for applauding the decision and another for giving instructions to the team from the stands.

Simeone was sent off for “protesting openly with his arms in the air, going out of the technical area on repeated occasions and not listening to the fourth official who warned him to stop,” RFEF said.

It added that Simeone then “hit the fourth official on the head with his open hand twice” and “applauded on several occasions in a sign of disagreement” with the decision.

Finally, “he took no notice of instructions” to move away from his position in the stand.

The incident took place in the first half of the clash with Real at the Calderon which Atletico won 1-0, and 2-1 on aggregate.

Atletico are likely to appeal against the severity of the decision.