It’s fair to say that Saturday was a day to forget for Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho.
Not only did he watch on as his Red Devils side failed to convert a host of chances before, ultimately, drawing 0-0 against Burnley at home, but the Portuguese manager was banished to the stands for the second half after an apparent confrontation with match official Mark Clattenburg.
Details about exactly why Mourinho was sent to the director’s box have been sketchy up until this point. Now, though, a report from the Mirror’s John Cross has shed new light on exactly what went down in the Old Trafford tunnel.
Building on reports that Mourinho spoke to Clattenburg in an unprofessional manner after being left reeling by some questionable first half decisions, the latest update includes eye-witness accounts claiming the former Chelsea boss went “absolutely ballistic” with the Durham-born referee.
In fact, one person who allegedly witnessed the confrontation told the Mirror that Mourinho waited in the Old Trafford tunnel rather than heading straight to the United changing room specifically to speak to Clattenburg.
When the experienced referee arrived, the 53-year-old manager “completely lost it” before entering what the paper describes as a “furious tirade”.
The main cause of Mourinho’s fury? As previous reports have noted, it was the referee’s decision not to award the home side a penalty for a Jon Flannagan challenge on Red Devils right-back Matteo Darmian in first half stoppage time.
If the account is true, then Mourinho can hardly have had too many complaints about being forced to watch the second half away from the touchline.
Indeed, he might have already accepted that a second F.A. charge within 10 days is on its way.
If that is the case, then it could spell more bad news for the United manager.
That’s because, coupled with the charge for speaking publicly about Premier League referee Anthony Taylor ahead of United’s clash with Liverpool, his latest outburst could see him handed a fresh stadium ban just days after a suspended ban dating back to his days at Chelsea had expired.
All will likely be revealed on Tuesday when Clattenburg is expected to submit his official report of Saturday’s fixture and the league will determine whether Mourinho’s actions warrant another charge.
Given United’s current struggle for form, Mourinho will be hoping to catch a break and be let off with a stern warning.
However, judging by the way he handled himself in the tunnel, that may be wishful thinking.