The current round of international fixtures are in full flow, but even though most domestic European leagues are on their summer break, AS Roma manager Jose Mourinho continues to demand the major headlines of the day and he did just that once again on Wednesday evening.
As Serie A fans will remember, the self style Portuguese Special One once again had a fiery spat with officials following the Europa League Final defeat to Sevilla that went all the way to penalties after regulation time finished with a 1-1 draw, and having confronted English referee, Anthony Taylor, following the game coming to a natural end in the car park, UEFA had already charged him with using insulting or abusive language followed his foul mouth rant at Taylor.
It has now been confirmed that Mourinho has been handed a four match ban for the coming season following the events out in Budapest.
It was not the only charge emanating from the game as both clubs also faced several charges over both the behaviour of the fans, and the players themselves, during the course of the game. Roma have also been banned from selling tickets to travelling fans for one European game in the coming 2023/24 campaign and fined a total of 55,000 Euros (£47,300) having also been charged for the fans behaviour of throwing objects, the lighting of fireworks and then the subsequent improper conduct of their team on the pitch.
Understandably, UEFA have probably taken a slightly harder line here as 44 year old Taylor was repeatedly called to both of the dug outs during the game as fourth official Michael Oliver struggled to keep control, and naturally Mourinho’s feisty style of management played a significant role in that.
The game also saw the most bookings of any Europa League game with Taylor issuing 13 cards in total, with seven of them going to Roma players directly – which is also a record for a Europa League Final.
With Mourinho not hiding his contempt at the end of the game and being captured on camera in the car park, Taylor and his family were then further abused at Budapest Airport as they left the country and one individual has been charged with affray for that incident.
Given all the varying circumstances here, the punishment is certainly not surprising.
