FA considering Mourinho action

The Football Association were on Monday weighing up whether to start an investigation into Jose Mourinho’s controversial gesture during Chelsea’s Carling Cup final success.

The FA were awaiting the official match report from referee Steve Bennett, who has already confirmed that details of the incident would be included.

Mourinho was asked to leave the pitchside shortly after raising his finger to his lips when Steven Gerrard’s late own goal equaliser enabled Chelsea to go on and secure an extra-time victory.

The Chelsea boss apologised but insisted his gesture was aimed at media critics, who were on the other side of the stadium, rather than the thousands of Liverpool fans, who were sitting just behind him.

“I have a lot of respect for Liverpool fans. What I did, the sign of silence - ’shut your mouth’ – was not for them. It was for the English Press,” he declared.

“But if I made a mistake and did something that I cannot do in English football, then I have to adapt and understand where I am.”

Whether that explanation saves him from his second FA charge of the season - having previously accused Manchester United players of “cheating” in their Carling Cup semi-final – remains to be seen.

The FA are likely to evaluate Bennett’s report and then ask Mourinho to explain his comments before deciding upon whether to charge him with misconduct.

Touchline bans and fines have previously tended to be directed at managers who abuse or criticise match officials, although goading the crowd – even if they were not his intended target – is still potentially a serious matter.

Mourinho had claimed that he was ordered to move from the touchline by a police officer, who was understood to have been worried by the public order implications of his gesture.

However, South Wales Police today made it clear that the decision was ultimately taken by the fourth official, Phil Crossley, and this could actually help Mourinho’s cause.

The Chelsea boss also maintained that a wave to a similar section of the ground had been directed at his wife after he was encouraged back onto the pitch by striker Didier Drogba after the final whistle.

Drogba revealed: “We win as a team, lose as a team and celebrate as a team. It didn’t matter who got him out on the pitch, we just wanted him out there.”

Mourinho then made a point of shaking the hands of every Liverpool player and staff member, including Gerrard, whom he tried to sign last summer.

The Chelsea boss insisted: “Why can’t I shake his hand? I shook the hands of everyone from Liverpool."