Mourinho handed one-match European ban, £23,000 fine

Tottenham head coach, Jose Mourinho, has been handed a suspended one-match European competition ban, Uefa has announced.

The Portuguese was deemed to be responsible for the late kick-off of the Europa League match against Royal Antwerp on October 29.

His club were fined just under £23,000 for the late start by Uefa’s control, ethics and disciplinary body (CEDB), as well as a further £2,700 for a breach of Uefa’s equipment regulations.

Meanwhile, Scottish champions Celtic were fined £6,300 for improper conduct related to their Europa League game against Lille on the same night.

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Spurs and Celtic have been contacted for comment.

In July, Mourinho slammed the ‘clueless’ FA after Eric Dier was banned for four games for jumping into the Spurs crowd.

Spurs defender Dier was given a four-match ban and fined £40,000 for climbing into the stands to confront a fan who had hurled abuse at him and his family after the FA Cup shootout defeat to Norwich on March 4.

The FA’s independent panel punished England defender Dier for ‘threatening’ behaviour – despite being told the fan called him a ‘w*****’ and a ‘f***ing c***’.

Mourinho branded FA people ‘powerful people who do not have a clue’.

And he risked getting himself into trouble, insisting they ‘do not belong to the tribe’ of football.

Mourinho has opened the door for Gedson Fernandes to return to Benfica in January.

Mourinho’s countryman only moved to North London in January on an 18-month deal but his boss has hinted at cutting the flop’s spell short.

Fernandes, 21, has featured just 13 times across all competitions under his compatriot Mourinho, totalling 357 minutes of action, and yet to register a goal or assist.

And the Spurs boss suggested the deal could be terminated after just a year if that is best for the player.

He told Sport TV: “For me it is never a problem, but a solution.

Having him in the squad, even if he is not called up and not playing, is an extremely comfortable situation.

“I will never be the one to push him or say that I don’t want him here. But I understand the situation of the kid and Benfica.

“If the club wants to end the relationship here, we will be here to collaborate, because we want the good of the player.

“Benfica has the power to decide and will be accepted by us.”