Jose Mourinho is pleased to have been cleared of a Football Association charge as the Manchester United manager insists he is “100 per cent” innocent.
After last month coming from behind to beat Newcastle 3-2 amid a backdrop of uncertainty about his position, tensions boiled over at full-time as the 55-year-old made his way down the touchline.
Footage showed Mourinho making comments in Portuguese, at one point looking into a camera, as he headed towards the tunnel, leading to an FA charge for using abusive, insulting or improper language.
United vigorously contested it and an Independent Regulatory Commission decided against sanctioning him after a hearing on Wednesday.
“Yes, I’m pleased but I know that I have to respect the process and I have to for what is going to happen next.
“But I only appeal if I feel that I am not guilty. I don’t appeal to lose my time or to make other people lose their time.”
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The full written reasons as to how the judicial panel members reached the decision are expected to be published next week, when the FA’s disciplinary department will weigh up whether to appeal.