Jose Mourinho is no stranger to antics in post-match interviews and after Roma’s defeat to Inter he joked about being attacked by someone who was banned for three years in a betting scandal.
The story starts after the Portuguese coach blamed referee Daniele Chiffi for the Giallorossi’s dropped points in the recent 1-1 draw with Monza, calling him the ‘worst referee’ he’s ever had.
The comments did not sit well with many and Renzo Ulivieri, the President of the Italian Coaches Association, publicly took a stand against Mourinho, calling the statement ‘serious and unacceptable’.
When speaking to DAZN after Roma’s loss to Inter on Saturday, Mourinho again shared his frustration with the officials before taking a moment to snipe at Ulivieri, saying: “But it gives me joy too, because to be attacked by someone who was given a three-year ban for betting in football, that makes me happy.”
Mourinho is referring to Ulivieri’s involvement in the Totonero-bis betting scandal of 1986, when the now-President of the Italian Coaches Association was coaching Cagliari. He was given a three-year ban for his involvement, upheld on appeal, and returned to coaching with Modena in 1989.