Mourinho sent to stands for kicking water bottle as Man Utd slump continues

Jose Mourinho was sent to the stands as his Manchester United side drew 1-1 at home to West Ham United in the Premier League on Sunday.


Zlatan Ibrahimovic cancelled out Diafra Sakho’s opening goal to leave United contemplating a run of four straight home league draws for the first time since Dave Sexton’s managerial tenure in 1980-81.

Mourinho, the current United manager, was dismissed by referee Jonathan Moss in the 27th minute when he kicked a water bottle in anger after midfielder Paul Pogba was cautioned for simulation.

Mourinho, whose side have fallen 11 points below pace-setters Chelsea, now faces Football Association censure for the third time in barely two months.

He served a one-match touchline ban and had to pay an 8,000 pounds ($9,980, 9,420 euros) fine for arguing with referee Mark Clattenburg during the recent home draw with Burnley.

Prior to that, he had been fined 50,000 pounds by the FA for claiming Manchester-based referee Anthony Taylor would find it difficult to perform well in a game at Liverpool.

To add to the volatile situation, Mourinho served a one-match stadium suspension last season, when Chelsea manager, after an angry confrontation with Moss during a game at West Ham.

On that occasion the Portuguese had to be escorted from the referee’s room at half-time by stadium security.

Mourinho’s mood at Old Trafford cannot have been helped by the fact his side conceded within two minutes of kick-off.

Jesse Lingard brought down Dimitri Payet, who took the resulting free-kick and planted the ball onto the head of Sakho, who slipped marker Ibrahimovic and converted powerfully from six yards.

United’s Swedish striker made up for that error on 21 minutes, however, when he headed the hosts level from similar distance after connecting with Pogba’s excellent chipped through ball.

It was no more than United deserved for the way in which they responded to going behind so early in the contest.

AFP