After the fiery clash between Rotherham United manager Paul Warne and Sheffield United boss Chris Wilder, Warne openly admitted to losing his cool when he believed Wilder had made physical contact with Derby County striker Jerry Yates.

The tense moment occurred during a match interruption for a throw-in, following a robust tackle by Yates near the Blades’ dugout, leading to a heated exchange between Warne and Wilder. Both men were shown yellow cards, marking only the second time Warne had been booked in his 400-game managerial career.

In a post-match press conference following Rotherham’s 1-0 loss to a Gus Hamer free-kick, Warne expressed his adamant stance on protecting his players from physical interventions. “I’m straightforward about it. I’ve only been booked once in 400 games before today, and that was for tossing a water bottle at MK Dons. Today’s booking was triggered by what I perceived as Chris touching my player. I won’t tolerate it. I wouldn’t touch someone else’s player. If I think someone has laid hands on my player, I won’t hold back.”

Warne continued, “I confronted him, stating that he touched my player, and he denied it. I’ll review the footage, and if my suspicions are confirmed, I’ll address it again with him. As a leader of men, I believe in defending my players’ well-being. While I have a great relationship with Chris, respecting one another, I firmly stand by protecting my players from unwanted physical contact.”

Expressing his unease with touchline behavior, Warne added, “Sideline antics are part of the game—gestures, banter over decisions, that’s fine. But seeing hands on my players crosses a line for me. If my perception is incorrect, I extend my apologies for the confrontation I caused.”