ROMA have been fined for go-slow tactics after Jose Mourinho’s latest controversial use of ball-boys.
The former Manchester United boss also landed a one-game bench ban after he was sent off in the same 1-0 win over Monza on Sunday.
Italy’s Sporting Judge officially blamed Roma for their ball-boys taking too much time to get the ball back after Stephan El Shaarawy hit a late winner.
Mourinho was shown the red card for mocking Raffaele Palladino and his Monza players with a crying gesture in stoppage time.
The ex-Chelsea and Tottenham chief has now now been suspended for next Sunday’s trip to his old club Inter Milan.
Roma were penalised 10,000 euros – about £8,700 – for having “objective responsibility” for the actions of their ball-boys.
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And it’s just the latest example of Mourinho’s contentious antics with those unsung helpers.
He famously praised a ball-boy for swiftly hurling the ball for Serge Aurier to take a quick throw and spark an equaliser in a 4-2 Spurs win over Olympiakos in 2019.
But two years before that he notoriously ‘axed’ the kids at Old Trafford for being too slow at returning the ball.
At one stage Mourinho even blamed such poor service from the sidelines for United’s indifferent home form.
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And back in 2014 he exchanged words with a Crystal Palace ball-boy, who he felt was not giving the ball back quickly enough to Chelsea’s Cesar Azpilicueta.
Mourinho has previously summed up his outlook on the matter by stressing the touchline helpers must know how important their role is – and be up to the job.
He said: “You want a quick throw-in, the ball boy needs to know that you want a quick throw-in.
“The ball needs to arrive fast. The goal kicks, the tempo of the game, the ball boys can also play a part in a good structure.”
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
