A heated scene in CL:

Kehl and Simeone argue on the touchline

BVB sporting director Sebastian Kehl and Atletico coach Diego Simeone clashed on the touchline.(Bild: APA/AFP/Ronny HARTMANN, twitter.com/ReezyBVB)

This scene caused a stir! During the Champions League clash between Atletico Madrid and Borussia Dortmund (2:1), BVB sporting director Sebastian Kehl and Atletico coach Diego Simeone clashed violently on the touchline. "You can't put up with everything," said former player Michael Ballack.

The trigger? Kehl complained loudly about a foul by Atletico's Rodrigo de Paul on BVB captain Emre Can. Apparently reason enough for Simone to literally "stand up to" Kehl. TV footage showed the two of them shouting at and pushing each other. Simeone apparently asked Kehl to sit down again. Simeone's assistant finally separated the two brawlers.

BVB sporting director Sebastian Kehl and Atletico coach Diego Simeone clashed on the touchline.(Bild: APA/AFP/Ronny HARTMANN, twitter.com/ReezyBVB)

"Emotions were running high. It was about fighting back. It was about a scene on the pitch. He and I know that. We'll leave it at that," explained Kehl after the game.

BVB coach Edin Terzic(Bild: AP/APA/AFP/Thomas COEX)

Terzic: "That doesn't surprise us"
BVB coach Edin Terzic also commented after the final whistle: "I didn't notice the scene. But that's just part of it," he emphasized on DAZN. "You know that you don't just need eleven players on the pitch here, but also all the lads on the bench, all the coaches, and it's nothing new that things can get heated in the coaching zone. That doesn't surprise us."

Praise from Ballack and Becker
There was also praise and recognition for this heated scene. DAZN expert Michael Ballack said: "Absolutely right. You can't put up with everything! We know Simeone on the line. If the referee doesn't intervene, it's certainly necessary to reprimand him from time to time. Sebastian Kehl felt called upon to do that."

That was important in the heated atmosphere in Madrid. "It doesn't make things any easier, but you have to defend yourself. To assert yourself at this level, you have to be able to deal with it. Atletico can do that to perfection," added Ballack.

Tennis legend Boris Becker also celebrated the scene. "Show strength when appropriate! More of the same in the second leg," he wrote on his X account.

But even Kehl could not prevent the defeat. Next week, Dortmund will have to make up for a 2-1 defeat to reach the semi-finals.