Jose Mourinho has been stunned after an FA independent regulatory commission fined him £10,000 for his sarcastic remarks about referee Mike Dean and referees’ chief Mike Riley.
The Chelsea manager, who also had an appeal against his dismissal at Villa Park in March rejected, is said to be furious with both decisions.
Mourinho attacked Dean and Riley last month with a series of comments laced with sarcasm after Sunderland had ended his run of 78 home matches without defeat.
He said: ‘I want to congratulate again Mike Dean. I think his performance was unbelievable and I think when referees have unbelievable performances, I think it’s fair that as managers we give them praise.
‘And congratulations also to Mike Riley, the referees’ boss. What they are doing through the whole season is fantastic, especially in the last couple of months, and in teams involved in the title race. Absolutely fantastic. I also congratulate Mr Riley.’
The FA announced that although Mourinho’s comments did not question the integrity of Dean or Riley, they did bring the game into disrepute. He has been fined £10,000 for improper conduct.
Mourinho’s appeal against the decision to fine him £8,000 for his behaviour when he went on to the pitch against Aston Villa was also rejected by the Independent Regulatory Commission.