José Mourinho has been charged for improper conduct by the Football Association following the incident during Manchester United’s 1-1 draw with West Ham United on Sunday, when the United manager was sent to the stands in the 27th minute after he kicked a water bottle along the touchline.
A month ago, Mark Clattenburg sent off Mourinho for verbal misconduct in the draw with Burnley at Old Trafford, and the latest charge falls well inside the 12-month period during which the FA can take previous incidents into account. The first sending-off was just over a year ago when Mourinho was Chelsea manager – also against West Ham, at Upton Park, when Moss was the referee.
However, Mourinho is expected to escape a stadium ban. While the sanction remains a possibility, it is understood a punishment of excluding him from attending a game is unlikely. Instead, he may receive a touchline ban and this could be for two or more matches, alongside a fine.
As he has so far paid £288,000 for previous offences, Mourhino could pass £300,000 if he is found guilty.
The draw with West Ham at Old Trafford left United with their lowest points return from 13 league games – 20 – since the 1989-90 campaign. It was also United’s fourth successive home league draw.
The two teams are due to meet again at Old Trafford on Wednesday evening in an EFL Cup quarter-final tie.
Guardian.com
