More misery for Mourinho as Blues boss cops stadium ban and £40,000 fine

Jose Mourinho has been given a one-match stadium ban and a £40,000 (€56,000) fine by the Football Association.

The Chelsea boss was hit with a misconduct charge after being sent to the stands during his side’s 2-1 defeat at West Ham last month.

An FA statement read: “Following an Independent Regulatory Commission hearing today, Jose Mourinho has been given a one-match stadium suspension with immediate effect and fined £40,000.

“The Chelsea manager admitted an FA charge of misconduct regarding his language and/or behaviour towards the match officials in or around the dressing room area during half-time of the game against West Ham United on 24 October 2015.”

Meanwhile the FA confirmed it has withdrawn a misconduct charge against Chelsea coach Silvino Louro arising from the same game, having “considered further representation”.

Yesterday’s announcement marks the second time this season he has faced sanction by the FA, having been fined £50,000 (€56,000) and given a suspended ban following comments after his side’s fourth league defeat of the season to Southampton.

Mourinho failed to take his place in the dugout for the second half of Chelsea’s defeat at Upton Park, and it later emerging he had been sent off after seeking to exchange words with referee Jonathan Moss at half-time.

Saturday’s defeat to Liverpool was Chelsea’s sixth in 11 Premier League games and left them languishing 15th in the table, just four points clear of the relegation zone.

Mourinho is next due to face the media this afternoon ahead of his side’s Champions League tie against Dynamo Kiev at Stamford Bridge tomorrow night.

The Portuguese will be able to stay pitch-side for the group game against the Ukrainians, but must miss his side’s Premier League trip to Stoke at the weekend.

The ban comes amid mounting speculation around Mourinho’s future, with some reports suggesting his fate is already sealed irrespective of Chelsea’s result in the Potteries.

The odds on Mourinho being the next top-flight manager to leave his job have shortened since the defeat to Liverpool, with some bookmakers making him as short as 1-3 to go.

To add to his misery, Mourinho is to be the subject of an individual legal claim from former Chelsea team doctor Eva Carneiro in addition to the action she is bringing against the club for constructive dismissal.

It is expected that legal papers will be served on Mourinho this week as part of separate but connected claims against him and against the club.

It means the Portuguese manager will have to appear in person at an employment tribunal unless the case is settled out of court beforehand. Under employment law, an individual can be personally liable for damages if victimisation or discrimination can be proved.

The claim against Mourinho will be on the basis that he was instrumental in the actions against Carneiro in having her dropped from first-team duties and effectively demoted.

The Employment Tribunal central office has been formally notified of both the claims, and Mourinho and Chelsea have 28 days to respond once legal papers have been received. If the cases were to end up in court, they would be likely to be heard early next year.

Carneiro’s case against Mourinho personally would continue even if he were to leave Chelsea.

It has been reported that Championship club Charlton could be preparing an offer to Carneiro to work for them, but no one at the club has yet been available for comment.