FA charge Mourinho over referee comments

JOSE MOURINHO is facing a possible touchline ban over comments he made about referee Anthony Taylor — but the Manchester United manager has escaped an automatic stadium suspension by eight days. The FA yesterday charged Mourinho over remarks he made before the draw at Liverpool 11 days ago. This time last season Mourinho was given a one-match stadium ban, suspended for one year, alongside a £50,000 fine. The FA had felt it would act as a ‘reliable deterrent’. That came after the then Chelsea boss was accused of questioning Bobby Madley’s integrity following defeat by Southampton. The suspended ban ran out on October 13, just over a week before Mourinho claimed Manchester-based referee Taylor would find officiating the match at Liverpool ‘difficult’. He was responding to former referees’ chief Keith Hackett questioning Taylor’s appointment because he lived in Greater Manchester. The FA asked Mourinho for his observations and have now charged the United boss with misconduct. He has until 6pm on Monday to respond. Asked about Hackett’s criticism, Mourinho 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.’ Managers are forbidden from talking about referees in the build-up to matches. Sportsmail understands Taylor took no issue with the extra attention heaped upon him. Mourinho later praised his performance after the goalless draw. Meanwhile, Chris Smalling, Daley Blind and Marcos Rojo could be the victims as Mourinho plots an overhaul of his United defence. He is targeting a centreback and a right-back in January and work has already begun to identify reinforcements. Eric Bailly, who is out for two months with a knee injury, has impressed the United boss since arriving from Villarreal and his position at centre-half appears secure. But United have conceded 12 goals in the Premier League this season, the second most of any club in the top 10. Four of those came in the humiliating loss at Chelsea last Sunday, in which Smalling and Blind were well below par. Smalling, in particular, made a bad mistake as Pedro scored after just 30 seconds and Mourinho is said to have berated the England international after the game.