Jose Mourinho will serve his one-game stadium ban when Chelsea travel to Stoke City on Saturday (Watch live, 12:30 p.m. ET on NBC and online via Live Extra) and a clearer picture of what the Portuguese coach said to get that ban has emerged.
Mourinho, 52, had been charged with a misconduct charge by the English FA which included a fine of $75,000 and was handed a suspended one-game stadium ban last month after accusing referees of being “afraid” to give his team decisions following their home defeat to Southampton. He appealed that charge but it was upheld.
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Then during half time of the loss at West Ham two weeks ago Mourinho confronted referee Jonathan Moss in the tunnel and was asked into his dressing room. After having a goal ruled out for offside and Nemanja Matic sent off seconds before the interval, Mourinho was seething and launched into an expletive laden tirade against Moss and the match officials.
After being sent to watch the second half in the stands after that rant, Mourinho was again handed an FA misconduct charge, meaning his suspended stadium ban now became an actual ban and he was fined $60,000 for good measure. Mourinho revealed on Friday that he “gave up” on the latest charge and would not appeal it, meaning he will not be present to watch his team at Stoke and can have no communication with his staff or players during the game.
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Below is the written reason from referee Moss which was published by the English FA. It is certainly intriguing to see how it all played out, and notice that a certain Arsene Wenger is never too far from Mourinho’s thoughts…
“When myself and my colleagues left the field of play at half time, as we entered the tunnel area to get to our dressing room, Mr Mourinho the Chelsea manager was waiting for us clearly agitated and began aggressively asking about first half decisions,” Moss said.
“Rather than publically (sic) speak to him I asked him to step into the entrance of my dressing room escorted by Simon Sutton, the West Ham United security manager.
Mr Mourinho asked me about a tackle, an offside and a goal line clearance. I gave him brief answers to his questions. After this I asked him to leave the dressing room area.
“He refused. I asked him again. After he refused again I asked Mr Sutton to escort him from the room. At this point Mr Mourinho became very aggressive and animated.
“He shouted that you ******* referees are weak… [Arsenal manager Arsene] Wenger is right about you… you are ******* weak.
“I advised Mr Mourinho not to take his position in the technical area for the second half due to his actions.”
