Jose Mourinho, the manager of AS Roma, was given a 10-day touchline ban and a 50,000 euros fine for his comments towards referee Daniele Chiffi after a game against Monza in May. Mourinho had worn a microphone during the match to protect himself but still couldn’t resist criticizing the referee. He called Chiffi “the worst referee I have encountered in my entire career.” Despite his efforts to avoid sanctions, Mourinho ended up facing disciplinary action.
As a result of the suspension, Mourinho will miss Roma’s Serie A season opener. This punishment comes in addition to the hefty fine imposed by the Italian FA. Mourinho’s clash with referees is not new, as he has a history of such incidents.
Mourinho had taken precautions by wearing a microphone during the game, recording everything from the moment he left the locker room to his return. He stated that he did this to protect himself. However, his comments after the match still landed him in trouble.
During the game, Mourinho had stopped talking 20-30 minutes before the end because he anticipated that the referee would give him a red card for any reason. He decided to avoid giving the referee the opportunity and said, “that’s enough.” Mourinho criticized Chiffi, describing him as horrible and lacking empathy. He specifically mentioned a red card given to a player who slipped due to exhaustion in the 96th minute.
This is the second sanction Mourinho has received in a week. UEFA had previously banned him for four Europa League matches for using abusive language towards referee Anthony Taylor during Roma’s loss to Sevilla in the final. Additionally, Roma has been fined 50,000 euros, adding to the 55,000 euro fine imposed by UEFA.
In conclusion, Mourinho’s attempt to protect himself by wearing a microphone did not prevent him from facing disciplinary action. His comments towards the referee after the game resulted in a touchline ban and a fine. This incident adds to Mourinho’s history of clashes with referees.