Jose Mourinho is handed a 10-day BAN after calling Daniele Chiffi the ‘worst referee he’s ever seen’

Jose Mourinho has been issued with a 10-day ban from the start of the next Serie A season, after labelling referee Daniele Chiffi the ‘worst’ official he’s ever seen.

Mourinho was furious with Chiffi after he was sent off during Roma’s 1-1 draw with Monza in May and described the referee as ‘technically horrible’ in an explosive tirade after the match.

The Portuguese boss, who has now been banned from the touchline and dressing room on matchdays for the first 10 days of next season, also revealed that he had worn a microphone in an effort to ‘protect’ himself from Chiffi.

The FIGC, the national federal court of Italy’s football federation, also handed Mourinho a £43,000 fine for his inappropriate comments.

‘(Chiffi) is the worst,’ Mourinho urged after the draw with Monza. ‘Technically, he’s horrible. Zero empathy. Zero communication. Zero awareness.

Roma manager Jose Mourinho (above) has been issued with a 10-day ban from the start of the next Serie A season, after labelling referee Daniele Chiffi the ‘worst’ official he’s ever seen

Mourinho pictured after being sent off by Chiffi during Roma’s 1-0 defeat by Monza in May

‘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.

‘Believe me, I have dealt with many bad referees. 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 was also handed a four-match ban by UEFA after directing ‘abusive language’ towards referee Anthony Taylor during and after the Europa League final earlier this month.

‘Zero empathy. Zero communication. Zero awareness’: Mourinho blasted Chiffi after the game

Mourinho called Anthony Taylor a ‘f***ing disgrace’ after Roma’s Europa League final defeat

As a result, the ex-Chelsea, Manchester United and Tottenham boss will miss Roma’s first four group stage matches in the Europa League next term.

Mourinho initially criticised Taylor during his post-match interview, as Roma lost on penalties to serial European champions Sevilla, and later confronted the referee in the car park, branding him a ‘f***ing disgrace’.

The 60-year-old manager’s future in Rome is uncertain ahead of next season, with Saudi Arabian giants Al-Hilal keenly pursuing a summer move for the Portuguese.

Mourinho reportedly declined a £26million-per-year salary from Al-Hilal this week, turning down a contract which would have made him football’s best-paid manager.