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Daily Mirror
Daily Mirror
Sport
Felix Keith

Jose Mourinho's long-term feud with referee Anthony Taylor involving hefty fines

Jose Mourinho is facing a ban from UEFA after being filmed giving a foul-mouthed rant to referee Anthony Taylor after Roma lost the Europa League final on Wednesday night.

Mourinho angrily confronted Taylor after, calling him a “f***ing disgrace” and accused him of making “bull**** decisions.” UEFA referees’ boss Roberto Rosetti was on hand to try and calm things down, but European football’s governing body could throw the book at the Portuguese coach.

Such controversy is nothing new for Mourinho, who has frequently clashed with the authorities during his long coaching career. And the Roma boss has a history of clashing with Taylor in particular, with the English referee having been on the receiving end of Mourinho’s barbs while he worked for Chelsea, Manchester United and Tottenham.

Here Mirror Football runs down the previous incidents between the two, which have cost Mourinho a sizable amount in fines.

First encounter

Back in October 2013, Mourinho was in charge of Chelsea and he clashed with Taylor during their 4-1 win over Cardiff at Stamford Bridge. The Blues may have got three points in the Premier League match, but that didn’t stop Mourinho from complaining.

The Chelsea manager spent much of the match moaning to Taylor and fourth official Trevor Kettle about Cardiff’s time-wasting tactics and eventually the referee had enough.

Jose Mourinho was sent off by Anthony Taylor in October 2013 (Getty Images)
He was furious with the decision (Scott Heavey/Getty Images)

Mourinho was sent to the stands in the second half and was later charged with improper conduct. He accepted a £8,000 fine, but denied doing anything disrespectful.

“I was not aggressive, I was not offensive. I just had a disagreement,” he said. “That in the game is resolved with: 'Shut up and sit down.' [You] don't need to go to the stands.”

Questioning impartiality

Three years later and Mourinho was back at it – this time as Manchester United boss ahead of a huge clash with Liverpool. Taylor, who is from Wythenshaw, Greater Manchester, was appointed to officiate the game – a decision Mourinho questioned.

Jose Mourinho was fined £50,000 by the FA for his comments about Anthony Taylor (Getty Images)

“I have my view but I understood and I learned a lesson by being so many times by the FA for saying some words about referees,” he said before the game that Taylor had been appointed to.

“I think Mr Taylor is a very good referee, but I think somebody with intention is putting such pressure on him that I feel it will be difficult for him to have a very good performance.”

He was charged with bringing the game into disrepute and fined £50,000 for his comments. The game ended 0-0.

More dissent

Jose Mourinho was annoyed with a decision to book Paul Pogba (Manchester United via Getty Images)

The following month Mourinho was sent to the stands again after reacting badly to a yellow card for United midfielder Paul Pogba in a 1-1 draw with West Ham.

It was Jonathan Moss who ordered him to leave the touchline, but Taylor was working as fourth official on the day. Mourinho, who had been sent to the stands already that season against Burnley, kicked a water bottle after Pogba was booked for diving.

He has charged with improper conduct by the FA and fined £16,000 – a decision which took his fines total to a whopping £304,000.

Red card criticism

Son Heung-min was sent off for a high foot on Antonio Rudiger (Julian Finney/Getty Images)

Fast-forward to December 2019 and Mourinho was now in charge of Tottenham, who hosted Chelsea in the Premier League. Two goals from Willian gave Frank Lampard’s side the win in north London, but the game was notable for Taylor’s decision to send off Spurs star Son Heung-min for a high boot on Antonio Rudiger, who was then racially abused by some home fans.

"The Son situation was handled badly,” Mourinho moaned post-match. “The ref has to book Rudiger and the reaction from Son is not an aggression. Does Rudiger have broken ribs going to the hospital? Other people call it intelligent by Rudiger."

Mourinho’s protests to Taylor were cooled by his former player Lampard and, on this occasion, he was not fined by the FA.

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