MADRID (AP) -- The Spanish football federation suspended Atletico Madrid coach Diego Simeone for eight matches on Monday after he was sent off during the second leg of the Spanish Super Cup.
Simeone will miss four Spanish league matches, with the remaining four-match ban applying to future Spanish Super Cups. Simeone was already suspended from Atletico's league opener at Rayo Vallecano on Monday because of a suspension that carried over from last season.
That means Simeone's new suspension will begin on Aug. 30 against Eibar. He will then miss the clash against Madrid on Sept. 13 and the subsequent league games against Celta Vigo and Almeria.
The federation announced its decision three days after defending Spanish champion Atletico beat Real Madrid 1-0 to win the Super Cup 2-1 on aggregate. Simeone was ejected in the 25th minute of the match at Vicente Calderon Stadium for dissent after he vociferously called for Juanfran Torres to be allowed back on the pitch after being treated on the sidelines. The defender had received treatment for a cut on his lip that had bloodied his shirt and was waiting to go back out.
Simeone was suspended for four games for tapping the back of the assistant referee's head, two games for protesting, one game for applauding his sending off, and one game for remaining in the stands instead of going to the changing room after his expulsion. The federation statement cited referee Fernandez Borbalan's match report.
Simeone was also fined 4,805 euros ($6,339), while Atletico was fined 2,800 euros ($3,694). Atletico has 10 days to file an appeal. Assistant coach German Burgos will take over for Simeone while he serves his suspensions.
On Sunday, Simeone said he was ready to accept a sanction. "When you make a mistake it is right to pay for it," Simeone said.
Simeone will also miss the first game of the Champions League for a suspension incurred in last year's final, when Atletico lost 4-1 to Madrid in extra time.
The Spanish Super Cup is a two-game competition played at the beginning of the season between the winners of the league and the Copa del Rey of the previous campaign.
