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Jose Mourinho's stadium ban explained

Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho during the game against Liverpool
Image: Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho is set to be absent for his side's game at Stoke on Saturday

Jose Mourinho has been given a one-match stadium ban, but what does the punishment actually mean?

We run you through some of the background detail to the Chelsea manager's latest Football Association charge and subsequent censure...

What was Mourinho charged with?

The Chelsea manager was charged "in relation to his language and/or behaviour towards the match officials in or around the dressing room area at half-time" during a 2-1 defeat at West Ham on October 24. Mourinho had an altercation with referee Jon Moss and was sent to the stands for the second half.

What was the verdict?

Mourinho admitted the charge and was fined £40,000 and given a one-match stadium ban with immediate effect, ruling him out of the Saturday Night Football game at Stoke this weekend.

Is the stadium ban the same as a touchline ban?

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No. A touchline ban means a manager cannot sit in the dugout but can still communicate with the coaching staff via telephone or messenger.

In the case of a stadium ban a manager is barred from entering the matchday venue before, during and after a game and cannot communicate with staff at any point.

FA regulations say a banned manager is also "not permitted to assist with the setup on match day eg putting the nets up", a detail unlikely to affect Chelsea's preparations for the weekend!

Is this ban related to Mourinho's suspended stadium ban?

No. This ban is a consequence of Mourinho's behaviour at West Ham. A suspended one-match stadium ban was imposed on October 14 over post-match comments Mourinho made following an October 3 defeat to Southampton.

He is still in the course of appealing that punishment which, as it stands, will kick in if he breaches the same FA rule governing comments about officials between now and the end of the season.

Jose Mourinho's stadium ban explained
Image: Mourinho's stadium ban explained

Can he appeal the ban?

Yes. Mourinho would likely be free to attend Saturday's game at Stoke if an appeal was lodged and that appeal could not be processed before this weekend.

Even though he admitted the charge?

Yes. Mourinho would be appealing the punishment rather than the charge. He also admitted the post-Southampton charge, but that did not prevent an appeal over the punishment.

Have any other Premier League managers been given stadium bans?

Yes. Alan Pardew was given a three-match suspension during his time at Newcastle after a touchline clash with Hull player David Meyler. He was given an additional four-match touchline ban.

What about Mourinho and the 'laundry basket'?

That was different. During his first spell in charge at Chelsea UEFA gave Mourinho a touchline ban for a Champions League tie against Bayern Munich in 2005.

Under UEFA rules, which are not the same as FA rules, Mourinho was barred from making contact with his staff during the game.

Chelsea later denied suggestions he had communicated with coach Rui Faria via an earpiece, and also denied a claim two years later that Mourinho had been smuggled around the stadium in a laundry basket.

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