Mourinho faces Rome derby KO as two-game ban is confirmed

Jose Mourinho must sit out the Rome derby after an appeal against his Serie A two-match touchline ban was rejected.

The Roma head coach will be a spectator for this Sunday’s game against Sassuolo and the tussle with city rivals Lazio seven days later.

His ban was temporarily suspended last week, allowing him to take charge of a game against Juventus, but it now takes immediate effect.

The 60-year-old was sent off for the third time this season just two minutes into the second half of Roma’s 2-1 loss at lowly Cremonese on Tuesday, February 28.

Mourinho clashed with fourth official Marco Serra and was sent to the stands, before continuing to argue his case when entering the officials’ dressing room after the match.

The Italian Football Association (FIGC) announced a sports court of appeal rejected Roma’s challenge to the ban, with Mourinho also fined €10,000 for his behaviour.

MOU + TAMMY #UEL pic.twitter.com/yrl2TqRDcM

— Lega Serie A (@SerieA_EN) March 10, 2023

The FIGC statement said Mourinho’s punishment was imposed “for vehemently and provocatively contesting a refereeing decision, reiterating such behaviour at the time of the expulsion and also for having, at the end of the match, entered, even if authorised, the referee’s locker room and addressed to the fourth official seriously offensive expressions and inferences”.

Former Chelsea, Inter and Real Madrid boss Mourinho had defended his actions after the game, saying: “I’m emotional but not crazy. For the first time in my career a referee has spoken to me in an unjustifiable way. To have the reaction I had is because something happened.”

His Roma side sit fourth in Serie A, ahead of last season’s champions Milan on goal difference.