Former Professional Game Match Officials Ltd. GM Keith Hackett said that Chelsea Manager Jose Mourinho's constant spats with referees "are tarnishing the image of the Premier League," according to Shravanth Vijayakumar of REUTERS. The FA "charged Mourinho with misconduct for comments made to Jon Moss that resulted in the Portuguese being sent to the stands during Saturday's 2-1 defeat at West Ham United." Mourinho is also appealing against a £50,000 ($76,500) fine and a suspended one-match stadium ban after he said referees were "afraid" to award his team penalties following the home defeat by Southampton earlier this month. Hackett said, "Sadly the image of the Premier League is being tarnished by the actions of the manager of Chelsea. He appears to be one very unhappy person who, frankly, is using referees as a scapegoat for the poor performances of his team" (REUTERS, 10/27). The BBC reported FA chiefs "are to be questioned over their handling of anti-discrimination cases, including that of ex-Chelsea doctor Eva Carneiro." Members of the FA's Inclusion Advisory Board said that they have "deep concerns" about the way Carneiro's case was dealt with by the FA. Carneiro left Chelsea last month "after criticism" from Mourinho. The IAB "will also seek to clarify the position" of FA board member and IAB Chair Heather Rabbatts. The FA "cleared Mourinho, now subject of two separate ongoing FA investigations, of making discriminatory comments towards Carneiro," who left Chelsea on Sept. 22. But the club and the governing body "have drawn censure for their handling of the process," with Carneiro claiming she he was "at no stage" asked to testify to the FA investigation. The FA said that Carneiro "was invited to contribute to the process, but Rabbatts' subsequent response led to two FA councillors complaining about her behaviour" (BBC, 10/27).
