Jose Mourinho was in the limelight yet again on Sunday when his touchline antics earned him yet another touchline ban after which his team drew 1-1 with West Ham at Old Trafford.
During the 27th minute of the game, United midfielder and record signing, Paul Pogba was judged of simulation and a free kick was given against him. Agitated from the decision, Mourinho kicked a water bottle near the touchline. The reaction didn’t go unnoticed and resulted in match referee Jonathan Moss sending Mourinho in the stands where he was unsighted from all the broadcasting cameras.
This isn’t the first time the Portuguese has been given this sort of punishment. Earlier in November, during a game against Burnley, Jose was sent to the stands for verbally abusing match referee Mark Clattenberg. He was also fined £58,000. Prior to this, Mourinho was handed over the touchline ban during his Chelsea days. The two things common then and now being match referee Moss and opponent, the Hammers.
The FA can very well hand more than a match’s ban to Mourinho this time, as they can take into account the previous conduct of the individual (if it has taken place within a year’s time). United will face the Hammers again in the League cup on Thursday. But the FA needs to take into consideration the match report by the referee. The decision will come within this week. Mourinho will atleast be missing out on United’s game against Everton away and if the FA decides to take serious action. It can go well beyond that and the 53 year old can also miss the home game against Tottenham.
Jose Mourinho pictured kicking a water bottle after referee judged Paul Pogba for diving
Mourinho’s assistant Rui Faria took over the touchline proceedings and defended his boss’s actions by arguing that a foul against United prior to Pogba’s incident had gone unnoticed and therefore his reaction was justified.
“There is a reason to express some frustration. After that, things that are part of the game and the referee took a decision. But it comes everything from that. I think everyone saw. It is part of the game. It was the referee’s decision.” – Rui Faria
West Ham boss Slaven Bilic also sided with Mourinho and in general expressed his displeasure of referees sending off managers to the stand
“I don’t know if he deserved to be sent off, I don’t know the rules. I don’t like any manager – especially him – to be sent off. It is hard to judge from our angle if it is a dive or a foul so I can understand it but I don’t want him to be sent off. I have seen him. We didn’t talk about the mood but he is a gentleman. I like him.”
