Mourinho charged with misconduct
Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho has been charged with misconduct by the Football Association for his comments about referee Anthony Taylor prior to the goalless draw at Liverpool.
The Altrincham-based official’s appointment for the 17 October derby raised eyebrows in some quarters and Keith Hackett, the former head of the Professional Game Match Officials Limited body, claimed the appointment would place undue pressure on the referee.
When those comments were put to Mourinho ahead of the match, the United boss said: “I think Mr Taylor is a very good referee but I think somebody with intention is putting such a pressure on him that I feel that it will be difficult for him to have a very good performance.”
Mourinho, pictured, was contacted by the FA for his observations on the comments and the body has now charged him with misconduct.
The United manager has until 6pm on Monday to respond to the charge.
Taylor handed out four bookings in total, all to United players, during the 0-0 draw at Anfield, with Mourinho praising his performance afterwards. Mourinho said of Taylor: “He had a good game and I am happy for him because people with responsibilities put a lot of pressure on him and it was very difficult for him to have a good performance, which he had.” Interim England boss Gareth Southgate has backed Ballon d’or nominee Jamie Vardy to end his worst goal drought for almost two years.
The Leicester striker has failed to score in his last ten appearances for club and country and was benched on Saturday.
Vardy came on as a secondhalf substitute in the Foxes’ 3-1 win over Crystal Palace after being replaced by Shinji Okazaki in the starting line-up. This time last year the 29-year-old was on his record 11-game Premier League scoring streak to help Leicester win the title.
Vardy has netted just three times this term but has been nominated for the Ballon d’or along with team-mate Riyad Mahrez, having scored 24 times last season as Leicester became champions.
Southgate, who will be in charge of England when they host Scotland in a World Cup qualifier on 11 November, said: “All goalscorers have periods where they are not scoring. History and records over the years shows you what they are likely to fall back into and his scoring record is phenomenal.
“I have played with Alan Shearer when he went through the same – and Andy Cole. Over a long period of time if they have a record of one in two or one in three they will come back to that. You have to look longer-term, especially with goalscorers.”