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Atletico Madrid manager Diego Simeone admitted his behaviour was unjustifiable after he was sent off following a heated altercation with a Liverpool fan following the home side's stoppage time winner in the Champions League on Wednesday, Reuters reported.

The Argentine had seen his side claw back a two-goal deficit but Virgil van Dijk then headed into the net in the 92nd minute to condemn Atletico to a 3-2 defeat at a raucous Anfield.

Simeone appeared enraged by a Liverpool fan behind the technical area and was eventually sent down the tunnel by Italian referee Maurizio Mariani.

Afterwards he said he had endured insults for 90 minutes, according to Reuters.

Major League Soccer's biggest star might be sticking around, as Lionel Messi is closing in on a multiyear contract extension with Inter Miami, ESPN reported on Wednesday, Reuters reported.

Per the report, the sides are in the late stages of talks, with merely minor matters to be finalized. Financial terms weren't reported.

Messi, 38, joined Inter Miami during the 2023 season, and his contract runs through the end of the 2025 campaign.

This season, he ranks second in MLS with 20 goals in 21 league games. Messi is also tied for sixth with 11 assists. Last season, he amassed 20 goals (tied for second in the league) and 16 assists (tied for third), according to Reuters.

Aryna Sabalenka has withdrawn from the China Open due to an injury suffered during her title-winning campaign at Flushing Meadows, organisers said on Wednesday, Reuters reported. 

The Belarusian, who defeated Amanda Anisimova to win a second straight U.S. Open crown and fourth Grand Slam title earlier this month, reached the quarter-finals of the WTA 1000 event in Beijing last year.

"I am sad to announce my withdrawal from the China Open this year after sustaining a small injury after the U.S. Open," Sabalenka said in a statement provided by organisers, according to Reuters.

Inter Milan will give captain Lautaro Martinez a late fitness test before deciding whether he can play in their Champions League group game at Ajax Amsterdam, coach Christian Chivu said on Tuesday, Reuters reported.

The Inter striker has a back issue and was taken off during their 4-3 Serie A loss to Juventus ahead of the Ajax game on Wednesday.

"We'll evaluate Lautaro tomorrow and see if we have him available," said Chivu, who also dismissed any suggestion of dropping Swiss goalkeeper Yann Sommer after the team conceded six goals in their last two matches, according to Reuters.