The FA has charged Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho with misconduct for his comments after Saturday’s defeat to Southampton.
Mourinho said the match officials were “afraid” to call penalties for Chelsea.
An FA statement said: “It is alleged his remarks constitute improper conduct in that they allege and/or imply bias on the part of a match official or match officials and/or bring the game into disrepute.”
Mourinho has until Thursday evening to respond to the charge.
Jose Mourinho charged for misconduct following comments made after Southampton match http://t.co/VmO6mkGxlL pic.twitter.com/sRLSlPftYt
— England Football (@EnglandFootball) October 5, 2015
The Chelsea boss was upset that referee Robert Madley failed to give a penalty for a challenge on Radamel Falcao by keeper Maarten Stekelenburg, with the striker booked for simulation instead.
“The referees are afraid to give decisions to Chelsea. Once more, we don’t get the penalty at a crucial moment in the game,” Mourinho said.
“The penalty in this game is crucial because my team, at the moment, the first negative thing that happens, they collapse.
“The penalty was a giant penalty, and after that, the team lost even more confidence.”
Sadio Mane put Southampton ahead shortly after the incident and Southampton went on to win 3-1.
“If [the FA] want to punish me, they can punish me. They don’t punish other managers,” Mourinho added on Saturday.
“I want to say it again: referees are afraid to give decisions for Chelsea.
“The penalty was a giant penalty and the referee was afraid to give it, like everyone else is afraid to give it.”
Earlier on Monday, Chelsea had expressed their confidence in Mourinho with a statement of their own.
“The club wants to make it clear that Jose continues to have our full support,” the statement said. “As Jose has said himself, results have not been good enough and the team’s performances must improve.
“However, we believe that we have the right manager to turn this season around and that he has the squad with which to do it.”
The 52-year-old, meanwhile, is adamant he will not be quitting.
“People can say what they want. I think you should go straight to the players,” Mourinho said following Saturday’s defeat.
”If they tell you they don’t trust me, [that] is the only thing that can make me resign. The only thing.”
Chelsea resume after the international break at home against Aston Villa, one of just four teams beneath them in the table, on Oct. 17.
