Jose Mourinho hit with FA charge for comments after Chelsea's draw to Southampton

Published Jan. 8, 2015 3:44 p.m. ET

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Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho has been charged by the Football Association for criticizing officials after December's 1-1 draw at Southampton.

Mourinho was upset at referee Anthony Taylor for not awarding a penalty with midfielder Cesc Fabregas instead booked for diving after going down in the area under Matt Targett's challenge.

After the match at St. Mary's on December 28, Mourinho said: "There is a campaign against Chelsea. I don't know why there is this campaign and I do not care.

"Everybody knows it was a penalty. The referee made a mistake, people make mistakes and he made a big mistake. He is a good referee and a good guy, he is young, he has years and years of football ahead of him but it is a big mistake."

An FA statement released on Thursday evening read: "It is alleged his remarks constitute improper conduct in that they allege and/or imply bias on the part of a referee or referees and/or bring the game into disrepute."

The Portuguese boss has until 6pm on January 13 to respond and he has withdrawn from Friday's routine press conference following news of the charge.

The FA also revealed Mourinho had been issued with a formal warning for pre-match comments on December 19 ahead of Chelsea's game against Stoke.

Its statement added: "Having sought his observations on this matter, decided not to bring a disciplinary charge and instead issued him with a formal warning."

"The FA prohibit participants from making any pre-match media comments including comments of a positive nature concerning the appointed match officials for a particular fixture. Whether the official is identifiable by name or by implication, these are deemed to amount to improper conduct in breach of FA Rule E3."

Before facing Mark Hughes' Stoke, Mourinho said he hoped referee Neil Swarbrick "does his job".

He added: "I like these matches. It's no problem with a good referee that can understand what is aggressivity or when aggressivity finishes and when the rules of the game start.

"I know it is difficult for every team to play this kind of match but again I'm not worried. The referee is there exactly to judge what is aggressivity. And aggressivity I always welcome, it makes the game much more beautiful and difficult."