Why? Soccer officials punished Mourinho for his comments after Chelsea’s loss to Southampton. Those critical comments cost him $77,251 and left him needing to stifle his criticism for a year.
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The Football Association confirmed its decision on Wednesday. “Jose Mourinho has been given a suspended one-match stadium ban and fined £50,000 after he admitted a breach of FA Rules in relation to post-match media comments,” the English soccer governing body said in a statement.
Mourinho was incensed at the failure to award a penalty when Chelsea’s Radamel Falcao was brought down by Southampton goalkeeper Martin Stekelenburg, which led to Falcao receiving a yellow card. Chelsea lost the match 3-1.
Game officials, Mourinho claimed after the match, were “afraid” to award spot kicks to Chelsea and told the FA “it would not be a problem” should it sanction him for his comments.
FA officials obliged.
“The Chelsea manager was charged for misconduct following the game against Southampton on Saturday 3 October 2015,” the FA statement said.
“It was alleged his remarks constituted improper conduct in that they alleged and/or implied bias on the part of a match official or match officials and/or brought the game into disrepute.
“Mr. Mourinho’s suspended stadium ban will be immediately invoked should he be found by an Independent Regulatory Commission to have committed a further breach of FA Rule E3 for any comment or statement to or through the media before 13 October 2016.”
Chelsea’s next match is Saturday, at home against Aston Villa.
