FA To Probe Mourinho Over Anthony Taylor Comments

Following the FA’s decision to appoint Taylor as the centre ref for the crunch tie between Liverpool and United at Anfield on Monday, Mourinho claimed that the Manchester-based Taylor will not be at his best as he is being put under pressure from the authorities.

Concerns have been raised over Taylor’s appointment for United’s visit to their bitter rivals because he lives only a few miles from Manchester United’s Old Trafford.

“I think Mr Taylor is a very good referee but I think somebody with intention is putting such a pressure on him that I feel it will be difficult for him to have a very good performance,” Mourinho told Sunday newspapers.

“I have my view but I understood and I learned a lesson by being punished so many times for some words so I don’t want to say anything [more] about it.”

According to Press Association Sport, the English FA might contact the Portuguese for his latest comment made about match officials.

A statement by the FA reads: “Clubs are being advised that any media comments by managers, players or any other club officials relating to appointed match officials prior to a fixture will no longer be allowed – such prematch comments will be deemed improper and dealt with accordingly.”

In 2009, new rules were introduced, in an attempt to crack down on pre-match comments about officials, which could be viewed as intimidatory or influential.

Mourinho has been fined several times by the FA. In October, as Chelsea manager, he was given a suspended one-match stadium ban and fined £50,000 for comments he made about Robert Madley after he denied the Blues a spot-kick in a 3-1 loss to Southampton.

The 53-year-old had suggested match officials were afraid to award his team penalties, with the FA saying his comments “imply bias on the part of a match official”.

He has already paid out £230,000 in penalties during two spells in charge of Chelsea.