Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho’s appeal against a suspended one-match stadium ban and a £50,000 fine for post-match media comments made after the game against Southampton has been dismissed by the Football Association (FA).
Mourinho was handed the sanctions last month after suggesting in an interview following the 3-1 home defeat to the Saints that referees were “afraid” to award penalties to his team.
The Portuguese confirmed his intention to appeal shortly after but the FA confirmed on Thursday that the initial decision had been upheld.
“An Appeal Board has dismissed the appeal from Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho in relation to a decision made by an Independent Regulatory Commission,” read a statement.
“At the original commission hearing, Mr Mourinho was given a suspended one-match stadium ban and fined £50,000 after he admitted a breach of FA Rules in relation to post-match media comments made following the game against Southampton on Saturday 3 October 2015.
“The Appeal Board has upheld the original sanction and therefore it remains that Mr Mourinho’s suspended stadium ban will be immediately invoked should he be found by an Independent Regulatory Commission to have committed a further breach of FA Rule E3 for any comment or statement to or through the media before 13 October 2016.”
Mourinho – who has come under pressure following a dismal start to Chelsea’s campaign – has already been handed a stadium ban by the FA this week over his behaviour during the defeat to West Ham on October 24.
The Portuguese was charged with misconduct, along with coach Silvino Louro, due to his “language and/or behaviour towards the match officials” at Upton Park where he was sent to the stands at half-time.
As such, Mourinho will miss Chelsea’s trip to face Stoke City in the Premier League on Sunday. Mourinho will face another stadium ban, if he is found guilty of alleging and/or implying bias on the part of match officials before October 2016.