Mourinho faces misconduct rap following latest referee outburst
CHELSEA manager Jose Mourinho is at loggerheads with the Football Association once again after being charged with misconduct for claiming there was a “campaign against Chelsea” following his side’s draw with Southampton last month.
The Portuguese, who was fined three times for outbursts last season, faces further punishment for criticising the officials after referee Anthony Taylor denied his side a penalty at St Mary’s Stadium and instead cautioned midfielder Cesc Fabregas for diving.
Mourinho has until 6pm on Tuesday to respond to the charge and has pulled out of a planned appearance at a press conference to preview tomorrow’s match with Newcastle at Stamford Bridge, with assistant first-team coach Steve Holland facing the media instead.
“There is a campaign against Chelsea. I don’t know why there is a campaign and I do not care. Everybody knows it was a penalty,” raged Mourinho post-match on 28 December. An FA statement released yesterday read: “It is alleged his remarks constitute improper conduct in that they allege and/or imply bias on the part of the referee or referees and/or bring the game into disrepute.”
Mourinho has also received a formal warning for comments calling on referee Neil Swarbrick to produce a strong performance in their match with Stoke City at the Britannia Stadium on 22 December.
The FA statement continued: “The FA prohibit participants from making any pre-match media comments concerning the appointed match officials for a particular fixture.”