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Atletico Madrid coach Diego Simeone has been given a three-match touchline ban following his side's defeat in the Copa del Rey this week. The Spanish federation (RFEF) announced the suspension on Friday, three days after Atletico fell to Seville 5-2 on aggregate. Simeone was sent to the stands by referee Martinez Munuera during the second leg, resulting in a one-game suspension, and the RFEF added an additional two games after the coach sarcastically clapped towards the official. The punishment will only come into effect in future editions of the Copa del Rey, allowing Simeone to be on the sideline as Atletico face Las Palmas in La Liga on Sunday. Simeone has come under pressure from Rojiblanco fans, with the Copa exit coming after the team had surprisingly dropped out of the Champions League in the group stages last autumn. But club president Enrique Cerezo dismissed any idea that the Argentine's time in as coach was coming to a close. "There is no Simeone cycle," Cerezo said in AS. "It is never-ending and he is a permanent fixture at Atletico Madrid. This is a good season." He added that the results have been as expected after the club's transfer ban: "We were not able to sign new players [last summer], unfortunately."
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