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HomeNewsThis 'Voyeur' Rivalry Continues: Mourinho Takes On Wenger, Again!

This ‘Voyeur’ Rivalry Continues: Mourinho Takes On Wenger, Again!

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Manchester United boss Jose Mourinho has hinted that the FA has singled him out whereas they adopted a lenient stance on Wenger, who escaped any punishment after criticising match officials.

Recently, Mourinho was again sent off for kicking a water bottle out of anger during United’s frustrating 1-1 draw with West Ham at Old Trafford.

Later the Portuguese manager was handed a one-match touchline ban for the bottle kicking incident and he had to miss the EFL cup quarter-final clash with West Ham at Old Trafford.

The month of November has been a nightmare for Mourinho, apart from  the water bottle kicking incident, earlier he was fined £50,000 for his controversial comments regarding referee Anthony Taylor. And later he was handed a one-match touchline ban after he was sent to the stands in the Premier League clash against Burnley.

However, Mourinho’s arch rival Arsene Wenger escaped any punishment for lambasting the match officials after Arsenal lost to Guardiola’s Manchester City.

Mourinho said: “I’m not surprised. I can’t say more than that. When I read his quotes I felt there would be no problem for him.”

When asked about if he was irritated by the situation. He said: “No. It doesn’t confuse me. It doesn’t irritate me.”

“Some people, not just in football but in life, it looks like they are happy, not with the things they get but happy with bad things other get. I’m not like that. I’m not happy other people are in trouble or have problems. I’m just unhappy when I have them. That’s it.”

Earlier in 2009, Mourinho’s fierce rival Arsene Wenger received an official apology from the former referees’ head Keith Hackett after he want sent off for kicking a water bottle at Old Trafford.

However, the story was completely different when Mourinho repeated the same action. The Portuguese manager was hit with a £16,000 along with a one-match touchline ban and now he feels that the FA should maintain the same rules for everyone.

Earlier, after being handed a one-match touchline ban for the bottle kicking incident, Mourinho had hit back at the FA.

Mourinho had said: “The only thing I would like would be the same rules for everyone.”

“Let’s go back to the last one. I kicked a bottle of water. I cannot do it. If I do it, then it’s a sending off. After that, there is a punishment.”

“I accept that it’s a sending-off and, in fact, if you see the images when the referee comes over, I don’t say a word or make a complaint.”

“I accepted the suspension of one match and it’s as simple as that. But it has to be the same for every manager. It has to be the same.”

Man United are all geared up to face Sunderland at Old Trafford on Boxing Day. This is Moyes’ first visit to the Theatre Of Dreams after being sacked as their manager in April 2014.

Mourinho was sympathetic towards Sunderland boss David Moyes and the recently sacked Crystal Palace manager Alan Pardew.

Mourinho added: “I think David moved on and this is what we have to do and what Pardew has to do.”

“They could have sacked him a couple of days later on Christmas Day which would have been even nicer.”

“But he has to move on, enjoy his family and a new job will arrive. I’m like this. I’m pragmatic. No problem. It’s part of football.”

Anirban Das
Anirban Das's journey to Delhi via Kolkata involves football, music, curiosity (which one day can kill the cat) and food. Following global football opens up an infinite space within him in both the conscious and subconscious self, away from the din and bustle of the madding crowd. Supports Manchester United & Barcelona

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