Tottenham Hotspur boss Jose Mourinho has been handed a one-match suspended ban for being late to kick-off against Royal Antwerp in the Europa League, UEFA have confirmed.
Rubbing Salt in the Wounds
Tottenham Hotspur Also Fined
The club was also fined £23,000 for the late kick-off after breaching UEFA’s control, ethics and disciplinary board (CEDB) regulations. A further 3,000 Euros was added for a breach of UEFA’s equipment regulations too.
Exasperated Jose Mourinho Reaction
Spurs lost the game 1-0 in Belgium, with the Portuguese manager making four changes at half-time and lambasting his side after.
“I would have liked to have made 11 [half-time changes],” he admitted. “I didn’t make five because I was afraid of a long 45 minutes without any changes to make.
“There is only one to blame which is me. I made the team. I have chosen the players to start and at half-time, I tried to improve the situation but it was not enough.
“You know our best team. But I always like to think the players deserve an opportunity. We have a big squad with lots of good players.
“It’s my responsibility to give them opportunities to play and catch the chance with both hands and be in conditions to ask for more.
“And tonight my future choices are going to be very easy. But again, there’s only one responsible.”
The defeat left Spurs second in Group J with Antwerp top on six points. The Premier League side sit level on points with LASK but on goal difference.
Fine and Jose Mourinho Ban Explained
The CEDB’s decision to give a suspended ban to Jose Mourinho starts from the date of the decision and comes with a one-year probationary period. This means if the 57-year old manager does not re-offend in the next 12 months, he will not have to serve the ban.
Another stipulation was that the club had to ensure that the Portuguese manager was fundamentally aware of the decision made and that it was made clear.
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