Jose may be forced to watch first two Chelsea games from the stands

Jose Mourinho may be forced to watch his first two games of the season watching Chelsea from the stands as he’s due to serve a two-match suspension he picked up in Spain.

The 50-year-old was sent off during Real Madrid’s defeat to bitter rivals Atletico Madrid in the Copa del Rey final following an altercation with an official.

Spain’s Football Federation plan to pass over the two-match suspension to FIFA and the English FA as the current punishment only applies to the Copa del Rey so he’ll on the touchline for Real’s two remaining La Liga fixtures.

This is where it gets a little complicated as FIFA has suggested that he should serve the ban in the FA Cup to maintain the balance, but there’s no specific competition suspensions in England when it comes to domestic matches – so it’ll be for Chelsea’s opening two Premier League fixtures should it be carried over under FA regulations.

A Spanish Football Federation spokesman said:

“We have a responsibility that Jose Mourinho serves his suspension for the Copa del Rey.

“If it’s not possible, then, in this case, that responsibility passes to the English FA. We must communicate to them when we send the registration forms that there is an outstanding ban.

“When we send the transfer forms, we will send all our information on the manager with the registration documents to the English FA and likewise to FIFA.”

FIFA confirmed:

“Should Jose Mourinho leave Spain and work as a coach in another association, the two-match suspension that was imposed following his expulsion from a match of the Copa del Rey would have to be carried over to and consequently served in the competition of the same category organised by the new association.”

(The Mirror)

Of course, it’s his own fault that he got himself sent off during the final but it would be a huge shame and an anti-climax if the fans have to celebrate his homecoming with him in the stands. I’d say it is likely to happen though, especially when the FA insisted that Joey Barton was made to sit out 12 games at the beginning of the season even though he was transferred to Marseille on loan.

Mourinho will take charge of his final game as Real Madrid boss on June 1st against Osasuna at the Santiago Bernabeu and is expected to fly to London shortly after to formally sign a mega-deal which would make him the highest earning Premier League manager ever.

Source: The Mirror