Jose Mourinho: Chelsea Boss Charged With Improper Conduct

Chelsea boss Jose Mourinho has been charged by the Football Association for improper conduct after being sent off during his side's 1-0 defeat by Aston Villa last Saturday.

The charge relates to Mourinho going onto the pitch to speak to referee Chris Foy following the injury-time dismissal of Chelsea's Ramires.

Earlier in the game, Willian was also sent off for the Blues.

Mourinho has until 18:00 GMT on Monday, 24 March to respond to the charge.

The Portuguese boss, who saw his team's lead trimmed to four points at the top of the Premier League after wins for Liverpool and Arsenal on Sunday, was critical of Foy after the defeat at Villa Park.

He said: "We must be very, very unlucky to have another refereeing performance like this one.

"This is not about one mistake from a referee.
This is about a performance from minute one to minute 94.

" Ramires was shown a straight red card for a two-footed tackle on Villa's Karim El Ahmadi, sparking a touchline fracas.

But Mourinho claimed he was trying to alert Foy after Ramires was pushed by Villa striker Gabriel Agbonlahor, who had already been substituted but rose from the bench to confront the Chelsea midfielder following his tackle.

"I don't know why I was sent off," Mourinho told BBC Radio 5 live.

"I asked, but the referee refused to speak to me.
"Gabriel Agbonlahor was on the bench, he jumped onto the pitch, he was aggressive towards Ramires.

Then everyone jumps onto the pitch: me, [Aston Villa boss] Paul Lambert and my assistants, lots of people there.

" Mourinho also said he tried to speak to Foy after the game but the referee refused.

BBC SPORT