Mourinho 'enemy of football' - UEFA boss

Chelsea boss Jose Mourinho has been called “the enemy of football” for his alleged role in the retirement of referee Anders Frisk.

Frisk, who was accused by Mourinho of talking to Barcelona manager Frank Rijkaard at half-time during Chelsea’s Champions League last-16 first-leg, decided to quit after receiving threats.

Volker Roth, chairman of UEFA’s Referees’ Committee, has criticised Mourinho and other coaches for creating tension between fans and match officials.

“It’s the coaches who whip up the masses and actually make them threaten people with death,” Roth said.

“We can’t accept that one of our best referees has been forced to quit because of this. People like Mourinho are the enemy of football.”

Urs Meier, who quit refereeing after threats following his controversial decisions in England’s quarter-final against Portugal at the European Championships last summer, has called for governing bodies to take action against those who ‘undermine’ officials.

“They have to do something, otherwise more more and more referees will be forced out of the game,” he told The Times in England.

“They have a duty to make some hard decisions against associations, clubs, managers and whoever undermines referees.”