Geneva, June 2 (BNA): Jose Mourinho was charged by UEFA on Friday after he was filmed insulting the English match referee in the stadium garage after the Europa League final.
UEFA said the Roma coach was accused of “insulting/abusive language against a match official” – who was later verbally abused by Italian fans at Budapest airport – after Sevilla won the title in the Hungarian capital this week, the Associated Press (AP) reported.
UEFA also pledged to review operations to protect match officials. The airport incident came on the heels of the first cup final since an overhaul of UEFA’s security planning since the chaotic and dangerous scenes at the Champions League final in Paris one year earlier.
Mourinho’s disciplinary case was among a series of charges opened by UEFA over incidents in a tough and ill-tempered match that lasted more than three hours on Wednesday and led to a field invasion by celebrating to the Spanish fans.
Footage circulated on Thursday of Mourinho approaching referee Anthony Taylor in the garage and calling him a “disgrace” with obscene words.
Also on Thursday, Taylor and his family were harassed by Roma fans at Budapest Airport.
The possible connection between the two incidents would mean Mourinho would receive a penalty heavier than the minimum two-match touchline ban required by UEFA’s disciplinary rules for “insulting or directing abusive language at a match official”.
UEFA said on Friday it “strongly condemned the violent behaviour” against Taylors and called on players, coaches and fans to respect the referees.
It also caused a security problem at UEFA’s first major final since it was widely blamed in February in a damning report about the near-fatal staging of the 2022 Champions League final.
Four weeks ago, UEFA detailed how it would act on the recommendations of the investigative committee in Paris to create a safer cup finals, including giving a greater oversight role to its internal security department.
On Friday, UEFA said it would analyze what happened in Budapest and “incorporate valuable insights into planning processes for future events”.
“UEFA maintains close cooperation with local police and airport security starting from the arrival of the referees in the host cities,” she said. However, we are constantly striving to enhance security measures for officials in coordination with local authorities.
Roma lost to Seville on penalties after a 1-1 draw, which saw players and officials clash on the field and in the technical field.
UEFA charged both teams with improper conduct which was activated for receiving at least five yellow cards on display. Taylor appeared eight against Roma players and officials, including Mourinho, and six for Sevilla.
“The referee looked like a Spaniard,” Mourinho said after the match. “The result was not fair and there are too many cases to revisit.”
Roma players thought they should have been awarded a penalty for handball, and Mourinho said of them: “We lost, but with dignity.”
Charges were also brought against Rome for crowd disturbances and acts of tort. Sevilla have been charged because dozens of their fans stormed the pitch after the match and their fans threw objects and lit fireworks.
UEFA did not specify a timetable for the disciplinary committee to decide the cases.
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