Jose Mourinho Charged with Misconduct: Latest Details, Comments and Reaction

Jose Mourinho faces FA punishment after he was charged for recent suggestions that there is a campaign against his Chelsea players.

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Mourinho Embarks on Media Silence

Friday, Jan. 9

There will be no Mourinho at Friday's pre-match press conference, according to Liam Corless of the Daily Mirror:

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Jose Mourinho will not be present for Chelsea's press conference on Friday after he was handed a misconduct charge by the FA.

[...] Chelsea assistant manager Steve Holland will face the press on Friday in Mourinho's absence.

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Mourinho Hit With FA Charge

Thursday, Jan. 8

The FA didn't take too kindly to Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho's suggestion Premier League referees are being swayed by a campaign against his team. In a classic "we are not amused" moment, English football's governing body has slapped the table-topping boss with a charge.

The FA's official website features a statement detailing exactly what Mourinho did wrong when he lamented the officiating during Chelsea's 1-1 draw at Southampton on December 28:

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Jose Mourinho has been charged by The FA for misconduct in relation to media comments he made following Chelsea’s game against Southampton on 28 December 2014.

It is alleged his remarks constitute improper conduct in that they allege and/or imply bias on the part of a referee or referees and/or bring the game into disrepute.

He has until 6pm on 13 January 2015 to respond to the charge.

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Associated Press reporter Rob Harris has watered down the statement to the essentials:

The original source of Mourinho's irritation stemmed from a clear penalty not awarded to his team when Cesc Fabregas had been felled in the box. Mourinho was quick to suggest referee Anthony Taylor's mind had been made up by outside influences, specifically the negative portrayal of his team, per Sky Sports:

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Of course (it has influenced the referee). That's a campaign, that's a clear campaign. People, pundits, commentators, coaches from other teams – they react with Chelsea in a way they don't react to other teams.

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Sky Sports pundit Gary Neville then suggested Mourinho's rant was merely a strategy designed to apply pressure to the next referee. Ironically, Mourinho was less than pleased with Phil Dowd's performance during Chelsea's 5-3 away defeat to Tottenham Hotspur, per Daily Mirror reporter Dave Kidd.

Scott Heavey/Getty Images

Matt Hughes of The Times noted that he disagreed with the FA's charge in this instance:

If, as Neville suggested, Mourinho is trying to force a few future decisions to go Chelsea's way, he won't mind the likely fine he has coming to him. Although exact details of the punishment carried by this latest charge are not yet known, Mourinho will hope to avoid a touchline ban.

It's just possible Mourinho's recent outbursts are not part of some subtle manipulation. They could just as easily be the sign of a manager feeling a little pressure of his own.

After all, Chelsea's lead has been wiped out by Manchester City. The Blues now only lead the table on alphabetical order.

The squad must now face up to their manager again being in hot water with the FA.