Mourinho charged with misconduct over `referee comments`

London [U.K], Oct.27 : Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho has been charged with misconduct by the Football Association after he made comments against referee Anthony Taylor prior to his side's goalless draw against Liverpool in the English Premier League.

Confirming the news, the FA said Mourinho would be charged for breaking FA rules and bringing the game into disrepute.

Mourinho has now been given a deadline of October 31 to respond to a charge of improper conduct. The Portuguese, who is a serial offender when it comes to the FA's disciplinary unit, had said that that it would be difficult for referee Taylor to officiate their game with Liverpool.

"I think Taylor is a very good referee but because such pressure is being put on him, I think it will be difficult for him to have a very good performance at Anfield.I don't really want to say too much more on the matter.

I have my view, but I have learned a lesson, if you want to call it that, by being punished so many times for my words about referees," Mourinho had said.

He further went on to say that appointing Taylor for the October 17 match had put "pressure" on the Manchester-based official, the Guardian reported.

As per the new rules introduced in 2009, managers are banned from talking about officials in the run-up to matches in an attempt to prevent their comment from influencing decisions.

"Clubs are being advised that any media comments by managers, players or any other club officials relating to appointed match officials prior to a fixture will no longer be allowed - such pre-match comments will be deemed improper and dealt with accordingly," the FA had said while introducing the rule in 2019.

Last year, Mourinho was slapped with one-match stadium ban and fine of 40,000 pounds after the FA backed referee Jon Moss' claims that the Portuguese refused to leave the officials' changing room and verbally abused him and his colleagues at half-time of a defeat against West Ham.

Source: ANI