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Irish Mirror
Irish Mirror
Sport
Jacob Leeks

Jose Mourinho quits role on UEFA board following ban over Anthony Taylor abuse

Roma boss Jose Mourinho has resigned from his role on UEFA 's football board as his row with the body's president Aleksander Ceferin continues.

Mourinho was only appointed in April to the newly-created board that was set up for leading figures to weigh in on the biggest issues in the sport. But since then, the legendary manager has been banned for four Europa League matches.

That ban was handed down as a result of Mourinho's actions during the competition's final in the season just gone. Mourinho frequently took aim at referee Anthony Taylor and even confronted the Englishman in the stadium car park after Roma's defeat to Sevilla.

Mourinho was then charged with using insulting or abusive language, a charge he was found guilty of. And as the war between the Roma boss and UEFA escalates, Mourinho has opted to pull out from his membership on the body's football board.

The Portuguese manager communicated his decision in a letter to UEFA's chief of football Zvonimir Boban. Boban is also chair of the football board, but Mourinho insisted that he felt obligated to step down.

“In thanking you for the invitation you extended to me to be a member of the UEFA football board, I regret to inform you that, effective immediately, I will be renouncing my participation in this group," the letter read.

“The conditions which I so strongly believed in when I joined are no longer standing and I felt the obligation to take this decision. I kindly ask that you also communicate my decision to the President Mr. Aleksander Ceferin.”

HAVE YOUR SAY! Did Jose Mourinho deserve to be handed a four match ban? Comment below.

Mourinho has been banned for four games by UEFA for his protestations towards Anthony Taylor during the Europa League final (PA)

The UEFA football board is formed of coaches and players both past and present. Their aim is to tackle issues around the laws of the game, refereeing and the football calendar, with meetings set to take place once a year.

It was the brainchild of Boban and former referee Roberto Rosetti, but Mourinho appears to be continuing his feud with the governing body. he likes of Carlo Ancelotti and Paolo Maldini are also on the board, with UEFA hailing its creation back in April.

"A stellar line-up of former football stars and elite coaches will assemble at the European House of Football on Monday, 24 April for the inaugural meeting of the UEFA Football Board," the governing body said in a statement at the time.

"This eminent advisory body, approved by the UEFA Executive Committee at its last meeting in Lisbon earlier this month, is designed to give an institutional yet independent voice of experience and expertise on fundamental football-related topics, including the Laws of the Game, refereeing, match calendar, elite youth development and players well-being.

"UEFA Football Board members were selected based on their outstanding club or national team football achievements, impeccable international reputation and extensive experience."

Mourinho will now no longer be attending though having renounced his participation and will instead put his focus into returning Roma to the Champions League next season.

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