‘Ask the FA and they will translate for you!’: Jose Mourinho mocks FA bid to punish him for allegedly swearing in Portuguese after Manchester United win over Newcastle
- Jose Mourinho has mocked the FA in an interview with a foreign TV reporter
- Mourinho cupped his ear to Juventus fans after Manchester United’s victory
- It was response to songs Juve supporters had directed at him during the game
- When a reporter asked what they were Mourinho told her to ask the FA
- They want to punish him for allegedly swearing in Portuguese to a TV camera
Jose Mourinho has mocked the FA’s bid to punish him for misconduct over obscenities he allegedly mouthed in Portuguese following Manchester United’s win over Newcastle last month.
The FA have launched an appeal against an independent commission’s decision to rule in favour of Mourinho after both sides hired linguistics experts to support their case.
Interviewed after United’s 2-1 win over Juventus in the Champions League on Wednesday night, Mourinho was asked about his reaction to taunts from the home fans in Turin.
Jose Mourinho has mocked the FA’s bid to punish him for allegedly swearing on television
‘Do you understand Italian?’ the former Inter Milan boss asked a TV reporter who replied that she did not.
‘Well, ask the FA and they will translate for you!’ added Mourinho, bursting into laughter.
The 55-year-old responded to abusive chants from the Italian fans by cupping a hand to his right ear after United scored twice in the last five minutes to hand Juventus their first defeat of the season and only their third at the Allianz Stadium in 35 European games.
It brought an angry reaction from the home supporters and Juve defender Leonardo Bonucci as Mourinho was hustled away down the tunnel.
‘I didn’t offend anyone at the end, I just made a gesture that I wanted to hear them louder,’ said the United boss.
‘I probably shouldn’t have done it, and with a cool head I wouldn’t have done it. But with my family insulted, including my Inter family, I reacted like this.’
Mourinho had answered similar taunts in the first game at Old Trafford by holding up three fingers to signify the Treble he won with Juve’s rivals Inter in 2010.
But former United favourite Paul Scholes criticised Mourinho for his latest stunt which overshadowed a comeback victory, just as it did with his touchline outburst following the Newcastle win.
‘This is everywhere he goes,’ said Scholes. ‘You need to win with a bit of class sometimes, shake the manager’s hand.
‘I don’t think there’s any need for it but that’s the way he is.’
