Roma head coach Jose Mourinho is no new to controversies and suspension in the footballing world, and as such, the latest hammer on him from UEFA might as well not have to come him as any surprise. As such, he won’t be available for the start of Roma’s Europa League games next season.
Well, the Portuguese has just been handed four match ban by the Europe Football governing body UEFA, following his unruly confrontation with English referee, Anthony Taylor who officiated the Europa League Final in which Roma lost to Sevilla on penalties. The ban follows an ugly incident involving Mourinho and Taylor inside a car park after the game, as Mourinho allegedly used some foul words on the referee as he ranted at him at the car park.
The 60 year-old Portuguese was earlier booked during the game before the car park incident. And during the game, the center referee gave out a total of thirteen (13) yellow cards to both players, seven (7) of the yellow cards went to Mourinho players, being the most in the history of any Europa League Final. The center referee was equally signalled severally by the fourth official to sanction the benches as he obviously struggled to have a firm control of the benches and the anger ravaging along the touchline.
Recall also that Roma had protested and demanded a late penalty following a cross visibly hitting the open arm of a Sevilla player, which was among the major things that triggered Mourinho’s unruly behavior towards Taylor. Hence, the reason he had the confrontation with Taylor and other officials for the match as they boarded a mini-bus after the game, which equally saw fans of the two clubs engaged in sanctionable behavior in respect to same game.
Meanwhile, BBC Football reported as well, that the English referee and his family were shouted at by angry fans at the Budapest airport, which both the UEFA has since condemned, including the referees body, PGMOL and the Premier League body, in separate statements released by them.
“…such actions are unacceptable and undermine the spirit of fair play and respect that Uefa upholds,” UEFA wrote.Â
“No-one should have to suffer the inexcusable behaviour they had to endure,” PGMOL said, on the ground they were shocked at the abuses Taylor and his family were subjected to, regards the Europa League Final.Â
Meanwhile, not just Roma that was in the bad books, both Sevilla and Roma equally faced separate sanctions over the behavior of both their players and fans during the game in question. Aside that, Roma equally received another sanction, which bans them from issuing tickets to travelling fans for one European game next season, with additional fine of 55,000 euros (£47,300).
This follows the behavior of their fans in particular during the game, were they were throwing objects at Sevilla players, including their captain whose head was bleeding early in the game as he was hit by one of the objects as he was about taking a corner kick. Others include use of fireworks and others unacceptable behavior during the finals.
Mourinho fights back after the ban…
On the other, in reaction to the latest ban handed down to Mourinho, the former Real Madrid, Chelsea, Inter Milan, Spurs and Manchester United coach has resigned his membership of UEFA football board, which was only appointed in April 2023.
It is obvious his resignation follows an escalating relationship with the Europe football governing body. He had reportedly communicated his decision via a letter written to UEFA’s chief of football Zvonimir Boban, of which Boban is also chair of the football board.
Part of his letter reads, “In thanking you for the invitation you extended to me to be a member of the UEFA football board, I regret to inform you that, effective immediately, I will be renouncing my participation in this group.”
(Photo credit: Google)
