JOSE’S CURSED!
FA investigate Mourinho for ‘swearing’ into TV camera He faces touchline ban for Chelsea clash
THE FA have launched an investigation after Jose Mourinho appeared to mouth obscenities into a television camera following Manchester United’s comeback win over Newcastle on Saturday.
If charged, Mourinho could be banned from the touchline when he returns to his old club Chelsea in the first game after the international break. It is alleged that Mourinho said ‘ fodas
filhos de puta’ — ‘**** off sons of b*****s’ — in Portuguese at a BT Sport camera while wagging a little finger as he walked down the touchline after United’s dramatic 3-2 win.
The FA are expected to use linguistics experts and lip-readers to confirm what Mourinho said before deciding whether to charge the 55-year- old with misconduct. Wayne Rooney was hit with a two-match ban in April 2011 for swearing into a TV camera after scoring a hat-trick at West Ham.
Even though Mourinho’s offensive language was in Portuguese, the FA are aware that Premier League games are beamed around the world to countries where the obscenities could be understood. Asked about the finger gesture
after the game, he tried to play it down by saying: ‘No it’s a finger, smaller than the others.’
The FA probe has only added to Mourinho’s problems after the United boss lifted some of the pressure on himself by beating Newcastle. His future at Old Trafford has appeared increasingly uncertain following a poor start to the season and fallouts with players.
The episode is also embarrassing for the club after his conduct this season was criticised by former United players and the media — leading to claims from Mourinho that he is the victim of a manhunt.
Saturday’s win has raised hopes that Mourinho can turn a corner and keep his job, but another school of thought is that the result merely papered over the cracks that have been apparent for months.
If the mood around the club does not improve dramatically, United risk losing their best players.
Paul Pogba is the biggest concern, with United’s £89million record signing desperate to join Barcelona as early as January, despite being told he is not for sale.
The Frenchman has fallen out with Mourinho and been stripped of the vice- captaincy, although Pogba could still push for a move to Spain even if the manager is axed.
Luke Shaw is out of contract at the end of the season and the England defender has no intention of signing a new deal if Mourinho is still in charge. United have tried to open talks but Shaw has not forgiven the manager’s brutal criticism over the last two years, despite reclaiming a first-team place.
Anthony Martial’s willingness to discuss a new contract in recent weeks is thought to be because he believes the Portuguese coach will not be at United much longer.
Martial has been at odds with Mourinho and was fined for going AWOL from the tour of the US in July. Player and manager were open to a move this summer but the club would not consider it. Martial’s deal runs out at the end of this season although United will trigger a 12-month extension if the 22-yearold does not agree new terms.
David de Gea is in the same situation and there are growing concerns over his reluctance to sign. United executive vicechairman Ed Woodward met De Gea’s agent Jorge Mendes, who also represents Mourinho, in London on Friday with the club believed to be offering a long-term deal worth £275,000 a week.
But De Gea is understood to have concerns over United’s ability to challenge for honours under Mourinho and is reticent about committing the best years of his career to the club.
Despite the stirring win over Newcastle, United remain seven points adrift of the Premier League leaders having lost three of their opening eight games.
Even though United can extend De Gea and Martial’s deals to June 2020, they face being forced to sell them before then to prevent them leaving on free transfers.
Eric Bailly is another player facing an uncertain future after he suffered the humiliation of being substituted 19 minutes into the Newcastle game with United trailing 2-0. It was a huge setback for the Ivory Coast centre back, who had only just started to work his way back into Mourinho’s plans.
Captain Antonio Valencia was axed from the squad after endorsing a social media post calling for Mourinho to be sacked and will consider his future in January.
Other first-team players out of contract this summer and unsure over their futures include Juan Mata, Ander Herrera, Ashley Young and Phil Jones.
Herrera would prefer to stay and sign a new deal, but the club’s current terms have fallen short of his expectations and he has been offered a return to Athletic Bilbao in January.