22nd June, 2023
Roma coach Jose Mourinho has been given a four-match suspension by UEFA for his behaviour at last month’s Europa League final.
The Portuguese faced widespread criticism after he directed abuse at English referee Anthony Taylor following his side’s defeat to Sevilla.
UEFA also announced West Ham fans would be banned from their next away match in European competition, with a further match suspended for two years.
That related to Hammers fans throwing missiles on to the pitch during their Europa Conference League final win over Fiorentina in Prague earlier this month.
The Italian club’s defender Cristiano Biraghi suffered a cut to the head from an object thrown from the crowd.
Mourinho criticised Taylor in his post-match press conference and, in video footage which later emerged on social media, the former Chelsea and Manchester United manager was seen gesticulating at Taylor and officials in the stadium car park and heard saying “disgrace”.
Mourinho was charged by UEFA on June 2.
Subsequent video footage of Taylor being accosted by angry fans at Budapest Airport was condemned by the Premier League and Professional Game Match Officials Limited (PGMOL).
West Ham condemned the behaviour of a section of their support in the wake of Biraghi sustaining a head injury.
A club statement issued on the evening of the final concluded: “In line with our zero-tolerance approach, anyone identified will have their details passed to the police and will be given an indefinite ban and therefore be unable to enter London Stadium and travel with the club. There is no place for this kind of behaviour at West Ham United.”
UEFA confirmed West Ham had also been fined 8,000 euros (£6,882) for an invasion of the field of play.