Why Jose Mourinho was banned by Football Association
Friday 16 December 2016 06:04, UK
Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho received a one-match touchline ban after he "could have endangered people around him", an independent commission ruled.
Mourinho admitted his conduct was improper when he kicked a bottle of water during the first half of Manchester United's game against West Ham in the Premier League at Old Trafford, on November 27.
The three-man commission, chaired by Stuart Ripley, ruled Mourinho had "aggressively kicked the bottle in a manner that could have endangered people around him regardless of the motivation to do so."
Referee Jonathan Moss said he had been informed by Anthony Taylor, the game's fourth official, that Mourinho had "aggressively kicked a water bottle… so recklessly and with little consideration of the consequences."
But panel members, who reviewed footage, unanimously agreed the incident was at the "lower end" of improper conduct.
The panel's written reasons, published by the Football Association, have revealed that Mourinho is "striving to improve his disciplinary record" and that he issued a "sincere apology for his actions."
The Commission noted: "Mr Mourinho ought to be credited for his admission to the charge, his non-confrontational actions when engaging with the officials subsequent to him kicking the bottle and his apology, which the commission accepted as being sincere."
John Alexander, Manchester United club secretary, wrote a letter to the panel and said Mourinho was "genuinely remorseful that his actions have led to further disciplinary action."
Alexander revealed the Manchester United manager is "striving to improve his disciplinary record" and said his actions were out of "frustration" after Paul Pogba's fifth booking of the season ruled him out of their EFL Cup quarter-final against West Ham.
Alexander added: "Mr Mourinho accepts fully that he should not have reacted in such a manner and that he should have managed his frustrations in other ways."
After reviewing Mourinho's previous disciplinary record over the past five years, he was handed a one-match touchline ban and £16,000 fine.
