UEFA's Jose Mourinho ban is not harsh enough and Gareth Southgate deserves England credit
Express Sport's chief sports writer Neil Squires runs the rule over UEFA's Jose Mourinho punishment and explains why Gareth Southgate deserves the plaudits coming his way.
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Jose Mourinho takes swipe at referee Anthony Taylor after Europa League final loss
Jose Mourinho escaped far too lightly with his four-match UEFA ban for abusing referee Anthony Taylor. Touchline tantrums from managers in the heat of a match are bad enough, but Mourinho’s expletive-laden rant at Taylor in the stadium car park in Budapest after Roma’s defeat in the Europa League final was delivered in cold blood.
The unintended consequence was Taylor and his family needing protection at the airport the next day after a chair and a bottle was thrown at him by irate Roma fans.
UEFA had an opportunity to send a headline message over what is and what isn’t acceptable in football at a time when officials are being targeted from the top of the bottom of the game at Mourinho’s hearing.
Four matches was a stiff punishment historically, but it was still not enough for a serial offender.
Jose Mourinho: The Roma coach was hit with a four-game ban. (Image: Getty)
Southgate earns rave reviews
The new play about Gareth Southgate at the National Theatre received excellent reviews. So too did his team after the 7-0 demolition of North Macedonia at Old Trafford.
The way in which England finished the longest season in football history spoke volumes for Southgate’s transformation of the side.
Playing for England should never be a chore but there was all the opportunity in the world for minds to be turning to the beach on Monday night.
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Gareth Southgate: The Three Lions boss has turned England into an impressive winning machine. (Image: Getty)
Under past regimes, there would have been cry-offs and excuses against such unglamorous opposition after a 10-month slog. Yet this mob are clearly refreshed and invigorated by being in the England environment Southgate has created.
With Euros qualification running like clockwork, they will be one of the teams to beat in Germany next summer.
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Imagining 'Boycsball'
Geoff Boycott wants Bazball scaled back to a more pragmatic England approach to the Ashes. Presumably 11 Usman Khawajas and a pillow would fit the Boycsball template perfectly.