Ibrahim Oladamola
Roma boss Jose Mourinho says he wore a microphone to “protect” himself against “the worst referee I have met in my life” during his side’s 1-1 draw with Monza on Wednesday.
Mourinho criticised referee Daniele Chiffi after he sent off Roma’s Mehmet Zeki Celik in the 96th minute.
“I went to the game with a microphone. I recorded everything,” Mourinho said.
“From the moment I left the locker room, to the moment I returned – I protected myself.
“He [Cheffi] is the worst. Technically he’s horrible. Zero empathy. Zero communication. Zero awareness.
“A second yellow to a guy who slips in the 96th minute… I stopped working 20-30 minutes from the end because I knew he would give me a red card for anything.
“I didn’t give him the opportunity, I decided no, that’s enough.”
Stephan El Shaarawy’s opening goal was cancelled out by Monza’s Luca Caldirola with the result leaving Roma seventh in Serie A and outside the European qualification places on goal difference.
“Believe me, I have dealt with many bad referees,” said Mourinho. “Usually, when I talk about referees, it is because they have a direct influence on the game.
“He is horrible, he makes no human connection with anyone, he has no empathy, he gives a red card to a player who slips because he is exhausted at the 96th minute.
“Unfortunately, this too is a sign of Roma’s weakness as a club, because we do not have the strength of other clubs who can say we don’t want this referee.”
Mourinho threatened to take legal action suggesting the fourth official in Roma’s 2-1 defeat by Cremonese in February spoke to him in an “unjustifiable way”.
The 60-year-old was sent off and received a two-match ban for the altercation.
