Jose Mourinho: Ashley Barnes tackle ’criminal’

Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho has branded Ashley Barnes’ tackle on Nemanja Matic "criminal" in a lengthy attack on refereeing standards and media coverage on yesterday’s Goals On Sunday on Sky Sports.

He was forthcoming with the tv network he had strongly criticised for their coverage of Diego Costa’s stamp on Liverpool’s Emre Can last month, when replays of the incident carried the strapline ‘Costa’s crimes’.

“When I finished at the game against Liverpool, I went to the dressing room and the first thing I saw on the big screen, reading non-stop – ’Diego Costa crimes’,” he said.

“I would like to know how to you, Sky Sports, describe the actions of the Burnley player yesterday? My English is not good enough to find a word. Did you apologise to Chelsea, to Diego or myself? You didn’t. As an institution, Sky is so important in the Premier League, you never apologise.

“When Diego Costa has a three-match ban, probably three matches to Matic... tell me how many matches this player deserves?”

He added: “I don’t like the fact you start immediately, in that moment, the public judgement of the player,” he added. “You gave no space to the people that have to decide, the pressure was so much. You don’t do this with every club, with every player. Last year, Yaya Toure against Norwich, you didn’t have the same approach; (Robin) van Persie against West Ham, you didn’t have the same approach. This one (on Saturday) was even worse. This can be end of career. Matic is a very lucky guy.”

Mourinho admitted: “I’m risking my dugout in the (Capital One Cup) final because maybe tomorrow I get a ban. The incidents, I’m speaking about week after week exactly because it’s week after week...”

“I’m just trying to be honest. If you ask me about the five-points difference I would say that if we are in a normal situation where mistakes which are part of the game are sometimes in our favour, sometimes against us, it wouldn’t be five, it would be 12.”

The Portuguese went on to add that he was sympathetic to the difficulties referees face, and suggested that more video technology should be used.

“If the referee cannot see a penalty three metres in front of him, some official in front of a screen cannot miss it,” he said.