Jose Mourinho has been a busy boy this weekend, moaning to just about anyone who will listen about the standard of refereeing and the decisions that have gone against his Chelsea side this season.
The ‘Special One’ even made a guest appearance on Sky Sports show Goals on Sunday to have a pop at the officials, before turning on hosts Chris Kamara and Ben Shephard for the manner in which Sky influenced the recent three match ban handed to Diego Costa.
Mourinho has been very vocal in his complaints against officials this season, and has even claimed there is a ‘campaign’ against his Chelsea side, whilst also taking a vow of silence against the media following the recent Costa incident.
But does he have a point? Or is Mourinho simply playing the victim? Here we have identified five refereeing mistakes that have cost his side this season.
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Click on Jose Mourinho to reveal 5 refereeing balls-ups that have cost Chelsea in 2014/15
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Manchester United 1-1 Chelsea – October 26
Mourinho reckons the ‘campaign’ against his Chelsea side began in Manchester on October 26, when a last minute Robin van Persie goal robbed his side of all three points.
Mourinho was unhappy with the decision to send of Branislav Ivanovic in the last minute for a second yellow card, after the Serbian had earlier been denied what looked a blatent penalty when he was wrestled to the ground by United’s Chris Smalling in the box.
“The red card, I saw that coming,” Mourinho said. “If I have to speak about that I have to speak about the penalty Ivanovic should have been given.
“But I don’t want to speak about the penalty on Ivanovic and the accumulation of yellow cards. I don’t want to speak even about throw-ins. If I want to speak I will speak too much – you know I will speak with my heart and get into trouble.”
Southampton 1-1 Chelsea – December 28
With the game delicately poised at 1-1 at St Mary’s, Cesc Fabregas was clearly caught by Saints left back Matt Targett inside the area.
Instead, Fabregas was booked for a perceived dive, which prompted Mourinho to make his ‘campaign’ comments after the game.
In weeks previous, Steve Bruce and Sam Allardyce had both publicly criticised Chelsea players Gary Cahill and Branislav Ivanovic for diving to try and win penalties – something Mourinho felt had made an impact on the referee at St Mary’s.
Referencing Allardyce’s comments, Mourinho said: “After the game against West Ham, Sam is speaking about Branislav Ivanovic, what is this? Then, you come here [Southampton] and you have a crucial decision and the referee makes the wrong decision. He made a mistake. He assumed it.
“Out of nothing, Allardyce starts speaking about Chelsea players diving, then another coach and another coach. The referee changes a penalty for a yellow card.”
Chelsea v Liverpool – January 26
The second leg of the Capital One Cup semi-final last month was full of controversy – most of which involved Diego Costa.
Whilst the Chelsea forward was banned for three matches for his stamp on Emre Can, an earlier failure to award what looked a clear penalty for a foul by Martin Skrtel went against the Blues.
Mourinho was also unhappy with the way in which the media berated Costa for his actions afterwards, which prompted the Chelsea boss to take a vow of silence against Sky Sports.
You wonder whether the incidents that followed may have been avoided had referee Michael Oliver not missed what appeared to be a clear cut penalty.
Chelsea v Burnley – February 20
And so to the Blues most recent game on Saturday, one which has prompted Mourinho to launch his latest assault on match officials.
The Chelsea boss has pointed to four key incidents in Saturday’s 1-1 draw, the second of which saw the failure to award Diego Costa what appeared to be a clear penalty for a foul in the box.
With Chelsea leading 1-0 – and with Eden Hazard boasting a 100% penalty record for the club – the correct decision would have surely seen the Blues home and dry against the Premier League strugglers.
Failure to award the spot kick however played a major part in Burnley snatching a 1-1 draw, and Manchester City going on to close the gap at the top to five points – yet worse was to follow.
Chelsea v Burnley – February 20
And so to the ‘fourth moment’ that went against Chelsea on Saturday, and the straight red card handed to key midfielder Nemanja Matic.
The Serb lost his head after a terrible tackle by Ashley Barnes, and responded by pushing the Burnley forward to the ground.
But as Mourinho was eager to point out, the tackle from Barnes could have quite easily caused Matic a serious injury, and was only dealt with by show of a yellow card.
Matic has been a key player for Chelsea this season, and is now set to miss three matches through suspension – including next weekend’s Capital One Cup final. The fact Burnley went on to level the game when he was off the pitch only rubbed further salt in the wounds.
Mourinho said: “There are four moments of the game where you can write the story. Minutes 30, 33, 43 and 69. Don’t ask me more questions.
“I can’t go through the incidents. I am punished when I refer to them.”
