Jose Mourinho has once again found himself in trouble for his treatment of match officials, resulting in a 10-day touchline ban imposed by Serie A. This latest punishment follows a recent four-match suspension handed down by UEFA due to his aggressive behavior towards referee Anthony Taylor following Roma’s defeat in the Europa League final against Sevilla.
Mourinho now faces charges from Serie A for his comments made after Roma’s 1-1 draw against Monza, which occurred towards the end of the 2022/23 season. Demonstrating his determination to defend himself, Mourinho revealed, “I’m not foolish, you see. On this occasion, I attended the game armed with a microphone, meticulously recording every detail from the moment I exited the changing room until the moment I returned. I took measures to safeguard myself.”
The Roma boss did not hold back in his criticism of referee Daniele Chiffi, stating, “He is, without a doubt, the most dreadful referee I have encountered in my entire existence. Technically speaking, his abilities are abysmal. He lacks empathy, communication, and awareness.”
Mourinho went on to express his frustration over a second yellow card given to a player who slipped in the 96th minute of the match, exclaiming, “I ceased all engagement with him approximately 20-30 minutes before the final whistle, as I was well aware that he would eagerly furnish me with a red card for the most trivial of infractions. He is truly terrible; he fails to establish any semblance of a human connection with those around him. He possesses no empathy whatsoever. Handing out a red card to a player who slips due to exhaustion in the 96th minute exemplifies his incompetence.”
In addition to the touchline ban, both Mourinho and Roma have been fined €50,000 by the Italian Football Association. Consequently, the manager will be absent from the touchline for Roma’s season-opener in August, leaving the team without his guidance and expertise during this critical match.
Mourinho’s repeated altercations with match officials have drawn significant attention and raised concerns about his conduct. It remains to be seen whether these latest penalties will prompt the renowned manager to reflect on his actions and strive for more respectful interactions in the future.