Jose Mourinho, the manager of Roma, has decided to resign from his position on UEFA’s football board due to an ongoing dispute with the organization’s president, Aleksander Ceferin.
In April, Mourinho was appointed to this newly-established board, which aimed to gather influential figures to address major concerns in the sport. However, the legendary manager has faced consequences since then, including a four-match ban in the Europa League.
The ban was imposed as a result of Mourinho’s behavior during the final of the previous season’s competition. Throughout the event, Mourinho frequently criticized referee Anthony Taylor and even confronted him in the stadium car park following Roma’s defeat to Sevilla.
Subsequently, Mourinho was charged with using insulting and abusive language, and he was found guilty. As tensions between Mourinho and UEFA continue to rise, the Roma boss has chosen to withdraw from his position on the football board.
In a letter addressed to UEFA’s chief of football, Zvonimir Boban, Mourinho expressed his decision. Boban also serves as the chair of the football board, but Mourinho emphasized that he felt compelled 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.”
The UEFA football board comprises current and former coaches and players, aiming to address various issues concerning the laws of the game, refereeing, and the football calendar. Annual meetings are scheduled for these discussions.
The concept of the board originated from Boban and former referee Roberto Rosetti, yet Mourinho’s feud with the governing body seems to persist. Other notable figures, such as Carlo Ancelotti and Paolo Maldini, also serve on the board. UEFA praised the establishment of the football board back in April, highlighting the impressive credentials and expertise of its members.
“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.”
Having renounced his participation, Mourinho will no longer attend the board’s activities and will instead concentrate on guiding Roma back to the Champions League in the upcoming season.
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