The FA have asked Jose Mourinho to provide observations on comments he made in the lead-up to Manchester United’s 2-1 defeat at home to Manchester City.
United were comfortably beaten after goals from David Silva and Nicolas Otamendi at Old Trafford, but much of the talk after the Manchester derby surrounded a 20-man brawl between players and staff in the tunnel after the final whistle.
However, Mourinho is now being pressed by the FA to explain his comments made at a press conference ahead of the Premier League showdown.
Managers are not allowed to discuss or influence referees before matches and Mourinho is being questioned on his comments about official Michael Oliver.
‘I know. It [strategic fouling] is a strategy that they have. They put lots of people in attacking areas. They attack with a lot of players,’ Mourinho said ahead of the derby.
‘When they lose the ball, they are many times unbalanced in numbers, they have lots of people surrounding the ball area and they have a very strong – and this is a great quality – transition in the next few seconds after they lose the ball.
‘And many times, they need what is called a tactical foul and then it is up to the referee to analyse and to make a decision about it but I cannot speak about that.’
The Portuguese has until 6pm on Monday to respond to the FA.
Both United and City have until 6pm on Friday to provide their observations to the FA regarding the brawl in the tunnel following the derby.
Asked about the altercation, Mourinho said: ‘The only thing I can say is that for me it was just a question of diversity.
‘Diversity in behaviour, diversity in education, just that and nothing more than that.’
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