The Portuguese José Mourinho, coach of Roma, has resigned from a UEFA committee after the European football governing body imposed a four-match ban on him for his behavior in the Europa League final, when tackling and rebuke the referee in the stadium parking lot.
In a letter addressed to the Croatian Zvonimir Boban, one of the top football managers at UEFA, and published by the Portuguese media, Mourinho has announced his departure from the “UEFA Football Board” and has criticized a change of “principles” in the entity.
“I regret to inform you that, with immediate effect, I am resigning from my participation in this group. The principles in which I fully believed when I joined the group no longer exist and I feel compelled to make this decision,” declared the coach.
In addition, “I kindly ask you to also communicate my decision to the president, Mr. Aleksander Ceferin,” he added.
The “UEFA Football Board” is a group created last April that brings together coaches and former players to discuss ideas to improve football and, in addition to Mourinho, includes figures such as Rafa Benítez, Ronald Koeman, the Portugal coach, Roberto Martínez, legends like Patrick Vieira and Real Madrid players Luís Figo and Zinedine Zidane.
The Portuguese coach’s decision follows the four-match ban imposed on him by the UEFA Control, Ethics and Disciplinary Committee on Wednesday for insulting/abusive language against English referee Anthony Taylor in the Europa League final played in Budapest (Hungary) on May 31.
After that duel against Sevilla, which they won on penalties, Mourinho, 60, launched harsh criticism of Taylor’s performance at a press conference and then, in the stadium car park, insulted the English referee, yelling “it’s a fucking shame” and “you’re a fucking disgrace”.
