Mourinho in hot water again facing a two-match ban
JOSE Mourinho faces disciplinary action from the FA and an almost definite touchline suspension, after being sent to the stands by referee Jon Moss during a 1-1 Premier League home draw with West Ham.
It is the third time in less than two months that the fiery Manchester United manager will face disciplinary action from the sport’s ruling body.
In late October, he was suspended for one game, and fined £8 000 (R138 184), for an altercation with referee Mark Clattenburg during a draw with Burnley.
That incident followed a £50 000 (R863 330) punishment for comments made about the decision to allow referee Anthony Taylor to officiate the game with Liverpool.
The latest flashpoint also involved a referee with whom Mourinho has recent history.
Last season, while in charge of Chelsea, Mourinho had an altercation with the same official in a game at West Ham which resulted in a onematch stadium ban for the Portuguese.
A year on, against the same opposition and with the same referee, Mourinho kicked a water bottle 18m to protest Taylor’s decision to caution Paul Pogba for simulation after 27 minutes, a card that rules the French international out of United’s League Cup quarterfinal tie – again with West Ham – at Old Trafford tomorrow.
“I think everyone saw his frustration was shown in that situation,” said assistant manager Rui Faria after Mourinho refused to speak postmatch.
“It should have been a free-kick for us and it ended with a yellow card for Paul and he is out of our next match.
By that stage, Zlatan Ibrahimovic had equalised an early opening goal from Diafra Sakho.
But as has been the norm recently, Mourinho’s team could not find a winner as they recorded a fourth consecutive home league draw – the first time since 1990 they have gone four home games without victory.
More worrying yet, United have now recorded their worst start to a season, after 13 games, since 19891990, the season that saw Sir Alex Ferguson famously win the FA Cup after surviving strenuous calls for his dismissal from supporters.
“We were the best team pitch,” Faria said.
“We didn’t have any tactical issues during the game. Defensively we were very compact. Offensively we created the chances to win.
“We create chances that should be goals. It is not happening. The only thing we need to do is to carry on working, then things will change.”
West Ham manager Slaven Bilic sympathised with his opposite number for his latest disciplinary problems.
“I don’t know if he deserved to be sent off, I don’t know the rules. I don’t on the want any manager to be sent off. It is hard to judge from our angle if it is a dive or a foul, so I can understand it,” Bilic said.
The West Ham manager saw promising signs of recovery in his team’s display at Old Trafford.
“It is a difficult season and I am not trying to avoid saying that,” said Bilic, whose side is just a point above the drop zone.
“We are still paying the price for September, when we had injuries and lost against Watford, West Brom, Southampton, Middlesbrough.
“But recently there are good performances from us. It is only a matter of time before we get the points.” — AFP