Things are looking dismal for Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho, who has incurred a stadium ban and a £40,000 fine from the Football Association. This comes as the first stadium ban since Alan Pardew was given a three-match suspension, a four-match touchline ban, and a £60,000 fine at Newcastle United after head-butting Hull City player David Meyler.
The punishment is due to his language and behaviour towards match officials during half-time of his side’s defeat to West Ham. After Nemanja Matic and Mourinho’s assistant first-team coach Silvino Louro were dismissed in the first half, the Portuguese reportedly approached referee Jon Moss in his dressing room. Mourinho is understood to have sworn at the referee and called him “soft” in the past, making a reference to Arsene Wenger.
The 52-year-old, who also accumulated a suspended one-match stadium ban after his side’s defeat to Southampton, has admitted to the charge. The club has declined to comment on the situation but could decide to appeal the punishment like they are doing with the ban from 3 October.
If they do not appeal the punishment, Mourinho will not be permitted to enter Britannia Stadium or communicate with the staff before, during, or after what could be a pivotal game for the Blues boss. Chelsea have endured their worst start to a title defence this season with six losses in 11 games, and pressure has been building on Mourinho for quite some time now to turn their campaign around, which he has of yet been unable to do.
Club owner Roman Abramovich issued a vote of confidence in the Portuguese manager on 5 October. About a month later, Chelsea are in an even deeper hole than they were before with 11 points in as many games, and Abramovich may be ready to cut Mourinho loose if Chelsea fail to advance past the group stages in the Champions League and lose to Stoke City on Saturday.
When taking into account the direness of Mourinho’s situation at Stamford Bridge, it seems as though he might not be able to be present at what could be his last game with the club.
And although the Special One claims he is not worried about his job at Chelsea, recent events–ranging from his being the subject of legal action from Eva Carneiro to his all-too-often run-ins with officials to the massive amount of fines he has accumulated for improper comments and actions–all suggest that Mourinho is losing control.
