Most Talked-About Controversies Linked to José Mourinho

Public opinion and media debates around José Mourinho—discover key moments of controversy.

José Mourinho, a Portuguese professional football manager currently coaching Benfica, is widely regarded as one of the most successful managers in football history. Known as "the Special One," he has won league titles in four different countries and is among the select few to have won the European Cup with two different clubs. Notably, he stands alone as the only manager to have secured victories in all three current UEFA club competitions, solidifying his legacy as a highly decorated and influential figure in the sport.

Sections (6)

Full Timeline Early Life & Education Career & Achievements Success & Recognition Challenges & Struggles Controversies & Scandals

March 2005: Accusations of referee bias

In March 2005, following a Champions League tie between Chelsea and Barcelona, José Mourinho accused referee Anders Frisk and Barcelona coach Frank Rijkaard of breaking FIFA rules, leading to a touchline ban.

June 2005: Fine for meeting with Ashley Cole

On June 2, 2005, José Mourinho was initially fined £200,000 for his part in the meeting with then Arsenal full-back Ashley Cole in January of that year, but the fine was reduced to £75,000 after a hearing in August.

2005: Chelsea wins Premier League title, Mourinho throws medal into crowd

In 2005, Chelsea defeated Arsenal to win the FA Community Shield and also topped the Premier League. Chelsea beat Manchester United to win their second consecutive Premier League title. After the presentation, José Mourinho threw Robert Huth's championship medal into the crowd.

2005: Referencing the 2005 Serie A Title

In January 2009, José Mourinho made controversial comments about Inter's past Serie A titles, referencing the controversial 2005–06 Serie A title awarded to third-placed Inter in the aftermath of the Calciopoli scandal.

May 2007: Arrest for Animal Welfare Incident

In May 2007, Mourinho was arrested for preventing animal welfare officials from putting his dog into quarantine due to insufficient inoculation.

September 2008: Comments on Mourinho

After Inter defeated Catania 2–1 on September 13, 2008, the opponents' CEO Pietro Lo Monaco resented the fact that Mourinho had underlined Inter's superiority in the match, especially by saying that he could have played in goal for Inter.

November 2008: Discussion with journalist

On November 9, 2008, after Inter defeated Udinese 1–0 via a late Julio Ricardo Cruz goal, Mourinho had a discussion with the journalist Mario Sconcerti about comparisons with Roberto Mancini.

December 2008: Celebration and Controversy After Siena Match

In December 2008, after Inter's victory against Siena, José Mourinho's exuberant celebration in front of Inter supporters led to criticism from journalist Maurizio Pistocchi, who deemed it disrespectful to Siena fans. Mourinho defended his actions, referencing a similar celebration at Old Trafford in 2004.

January 2009: Controversial Halftime Comments

During halftime of a January 2009 match against Atalanta, José Mourinho made controversial comments about Inter's past Serie A titles, calling them a "shitty team." He later admitted to making the statement, justifying it as a motivational tactic.

March 2009: Press Conference Accusations

In March 2009, during a press conference, José Mourinho asserted that Milan and Roma would not win any honors that season. He also accused Juventus of benefiting from referee mistakes and criticized Italian sports journalists for "intellectual prostitution".

December 2009: Altercation with Journalist Andrea Ramazzotti

In December 2009, following a draw with Atalanta, José Mourinho allegedly insulted and grabbed Corriere della Sera journalist Andrea Ramazzotti, who had permission to be near the Inter bus. This led to widespread condemnation and an apology from Inter's president, Massimo Moratti. Mourinho was also referred to the Federal Prosecutor.

2009: Argument with Marcello Lippi

In the summer of 2009, José Mourinho had an argument with Italy's national team coach, Marcello Lippi, after Lippi predicted Juventus would win the Serie A title in the 2009-10 season. Mourinho viewed this as disrespectful to Inter.

February 2010: Handcuffs Gesture and Referee Criticism

During a Serie A game against Sampdoria in February 2010, José Mourinho made a handcuffs gesture towards a camera to protest the refereeing, resulting in a three-game ban. He further complained about a denied penalty and the booking of Samuel Eto'o for diving, which led to a show of support from the San Siro crowd.

February 2010: Responses to Criticism from Other Managers

In February 2010, José Mourinho responded through his spokesman, Eladio Parames, to criticisms from Juventus manager Claudio Ranieri and Napoli manager Walter Mazzarri after controversial refereeing decisions and a press blackout imposed by Moratti.

February 2010: Defense of Inter's Performances and Criticism of Other Managers

In February 2010, after two draws, José Mourinho defended Inter's performances and criticized Napoli's manager, Walter Mazzarri, and president, Aurelio De Laurentiis, using sharp words.

April 2010: Mourinho Reaches Champions League Final with Inter

In April 2010, José Mourinho reached the Champions League final for the second time in his career after Inter beat holders Barcelona. The match ended 3-2 on aggregate, despite losing 1-0 at Camp Nou. Mourinho had a confrontation with Barcelona's goalkeeper after the match.

November 2010: UEFA Investigation and Sanctions for Improper Conduct

In November 2010, during a Champions League match against Ajax, Real Madrid players received late second yellow cards for time-wasting, leading to a UEFA investigation. José Mourinho was charged with improper conduct, fined £33,500, and given a one-match Champions League ban for allegedly instructing the players.

November 2010: Fine and Ban for Tactical Yellow Card Incident

On November 30, 2010, Mourinho was fined £33,500 and banned for two Champions League matches for appearing to instruct Xabi Alonso and Sergio Ramos to receive tactical second yellow cards during a Champions League game against Ajax.

August 2011: Eye-Gouging Incident in Supercopa de España

On August 17, 2011, during the Supercopa de España final, José Mourinho was seen gouging the eye of Barcelona's assistant coach Tito Vilanova during a brawl. After the game, Mourinho claimed he did not know who "Pito" Vilanova was.

2011: Accusations of defensive play

In 2011, Morten Olsen concluded that he doesn't "like his persona or the way he plays football negatively".

2012: Hint of Departure and Growing Tensions

In 2012, After the second leg with Dortmund, Mourinho hinted that the 2012–13 season with Real Madrid would be his last, citing love from other clubs and hatred from some individuals in Spain. There were growing tensions between fans, players and Real Madrid officials.

2013: Tensions Within Real Madrid

In 2013, Mourinho's relationships with Sergio Ramos and Iker Casillas caused divisions between fans. His relationship with Cristiano Ronaldo became difficult due to differing opinions on the player's improvement. Mourinho faced criticism for controversial incidents.

January 2014: Mourinho Criticizes West Ham's Playing Style

On January 29, 2014, following a 0-0 draw with West Ham United, Mourinho criticized their defensive style as "19th century football" and joked about needing a "Black and Decker" to break down their defense.

February 2014: Specialist in failure

In February 2014, José Mourinho referred to Arsène Wenger as a "specialist in failure".

October 2016: Alleged Humiliation Accusation Against Antonio Conte

On October 23, 2016, while Manchester United trailed Chelsea 4-0, José Mourinho reportedly accused Chelsea manager Antonio Conte of trying to humiliate United with his actions. This was revealed after Mourinho whispered something into Conte's ear after the match, but neither confirmed the reports.

January 2018: Conte calls Mourinho "a little man"

In January 2018, the feud between Mourinho and Conte intensified, with Conte calling Mourinho "a little man" amidst continued verbal sparring.

March 2018: "Football Heritage" Speech

On March 16, 2018, following Manchester United's loss to Sevilla in the UEFA Champions League, José Mourinho delivered the "Football Heritage" speech. He criticized the management of Manchester United, implying success depends on player quality.

October 2018: Mourinho involved in tunnel incident at Chelsea game

On 20 October 2018, José Mourinho was involved in a tunnel incident at a Manchester United game against his former club Chelsea, following a provocative celebration by a Chelsea coach after a late equaliser. Mourinho also reminded Chelsea fans of his three Premier League titles won for the club.

2018: Mourinho demands respect after loss to Tottenham Hotspur

In 2018, after a 3-0 home loss to Tottenham Hotspur, José Mourinho demanded respect from journalists, citing his Premier League trophy wins and asserting his status as one of the greatest managers in the world.

November 2019: Mourinho's first match and comments on ball boy

In November 2019, José Mourinho managed his first match with Tottenham Hotspur in a 3–2 away win against West Ham United on 23rd. On 26th, he sparked media attention by claiming that ball boy Callum Hynes 'assisted' Spurs' second goal in a 4–2 win over Olympiacos in the Champions League.

September 2021: Blaming VAR and Referee After Loss to Lazio

On September 26, 2021, following a loss to Lazio, José Mourinho criticized the VAR and the referee for the result, sparking controversy.

February 2022: Red Card and Ban After Incident Against Hellas Verona

In February 2022, during a match against Hellas Verona, José Mourinho was red-carded for kicking the ball and making a telephone gesture toward the referee, reportedly saying "Juventus sent you". He received a two-match touchline ban and a €20,000 fine.

February 2023: Red Card Against Cremonese

On February 28, 2023, José Mourinho received a red card during a match against Cremonese. He claimed he was provoked by the fourth official. He received a two-game ban and was fined 10,000 euros for the incident.

November 2024: Suspension for Comments About Süper Lig

On November 8, 2024, José Mourinho received a one-game suspension for comments made at a press conference regarding the Süper Lig. He was critical of the league's quality and refereeing.

February 2025: Criminal Proceedings Initiated After Galatasaray Draw

On February 25, 2025, after a draw against Galatasaray, Galatasaray initiated criminal proceedings against José Mourinho for comments they claimed were racist. Mourinho praised the Slovenian referee and criticized Turkish referees, leading to a suspension and fine, which had been later cut.