October 28 – He’s only been back in English football for less than half a season but the self-styled Special One has already fallen foul of the officials.
Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho has been charged by the Football Association for claiming it would be “difficult” for referee Anthony Taylor to officiate their game with Liverpool which took place on October 17.
In his pre-match news conference, Mourinho said Taylor would struggle to have “a very good performance” in the game between the two fierce rivals due to him hailing from the north west of England.
Managers are not supposed to speak about referees prior to matches and Mourinho has until October 31 to respond to a charge of improper conduct and bringing the game into disrepute. Taylor’s appointment had been questioned given the proximity of his home to Old Trafford and whether that might make him deliberately try to make decisions in favour of Liverpool so he could not be accused of being biaised.
Last season before being sacked by Chelsea in his second spell, Mourinho was handed a suspended one-match stadium ban and a $80,000 fine for suggesting referees were “afraid” to award penalties to his team in the aftermath of a 3-1 loss to Southampton.
And his behaviour towards the officials during a defeat at West Ham last October saw him sent to the stands and banned from attending a subsequent trip to Stoke City.
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