Premier League: Chelsea boss Jose Mourinho hit by FA fine after Southampton comments

Jose Mourinho has been fined £25,000 for comments he made following Chelsea's game at Southampton in December.

Blues manager Mourinho had suggested there was a 'campaign to influence referees' decisions against his side' after Cesc Fabregas was denied a penalty in the Premier League match which finished 1-1 at St Mary's. Mourinho had denied the charge.

An FA statement read: "Following an Independent Regulatory Commission hearing, Jose Mourinho has been fined £25,000 after he was found to have breached FA Rules in relation to media comments.
 
"The Chelsea manager denied that comments he made after the game against Southampton constituted improper conduct in that they alleged and/or implied bias on the part of a referee or referees, and/or brought the game into disrepute.
 
"The Independent Regulatory Commission found the comments were a breach of FA Rule E3 in that they were improper and brought the game into disrepute.

"The Commission did not, however, find that the comments implied bias on the part of a referee or referees. Mr Mourinho, who had requested a non-personal hearing, was also warned as to his future conduct."

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Mourinho attended a personal hearing after being charged following the comments, which came after Fabregas was booked for a dive at St Mary's.

It followed incidents of diving in previous matches involving Diego Costa, Willian, Branislav Ivanovic and Gary Cahill.

The Portuguese manager said afterwards: "That's a campaign, that's a clear campaign.People, pundits, commentators, coaches from other teams - they react with Chelsea in a way they don't react to other teams.

"They put lots of pressure on the referee and the referee makes a mistake like this. We lose two points, Fabregas earns a yellow card.

"In other countries where I worked before, tomorrow in the sports papers it would be a front-page scandal because it is a scandal.

"I think it is a scandal because it is not a small penalty - it is a penalty like Big Ben.

"In this country - and I am happy with that, more than happy with that - we will just say that it was a big mistake with a big influence in the result.

"I am happy that it is this way, with respect for the referee. He made a big mistake like I make, like the players make sometimes."