Mourinho In Tirade At Referees  (Sky Sports)

Jose Mourinho accused referees and opposing managers of having a "campaign" against Chelsea in a furious rant following his side’s 1-1 draw with Southampton at St Mary’s.

Mourinho was left incensed when referee Anthony Taylor failed to award a penalty for a 55th-minute trip by Matt Targett on Cesc Fabregas and instead booked the Spain international for diving.

The game was tied at 1-1 at the time and although Chelsea peppered the Southampton goal for the remainder of the second half, they were unable to find a winner.

Mourinho was happy with his players’ efforts but enraged by the latest of what he sees as a season-long spree of unfair refereeing decisions against his team.

'Can't believe'

“I can’t believe that the referee didn’t give a penalty,” he said. “I can believe that Southampton defended with everything they have – good organisation, good spirit, good solidarity between the players.

“I can also understand the game that my players played. They tried to win, especially in the second half, when we had complete control. I cannot understand such a big penalty [decision]. Or I understand [it could be] a consequence of something that looks like a campaign.

“Starting day one [of the season] at Burnley, it was a penalty at Burnley and the referee gives a penalty to Diego Costa. That I can’t understand."

After berating Taylor, Mourinho turned his attention to West Ham United manager Sam Allardyce, who had accused Chelsea players of diving following the two teams’ meeting on Boxing Day.

Allardyce anger

Mourinho said: “Out of nothing, Sam Allardyce starts speaking about Chelsea players diving, and in another game it is another coach.

“We are polite people. At the end of the game, no problems, no fights, no shouting to referees, but the reality is that there are penalties and penalties, and this one is a huge one.

“Can you understand why a coach after the game says Chelsea players are diving? Match after match they are saying the same. And the other opponents are the ones who are getting the penalties that decide matches and results.”

Asked if other managers’ remarks to the media were putting pressure on referees, Mourinho replied: “Of course. They are human and their tendency is to react that way. I will go to the referee [Taylor] in 15 minutes just to wish him a good year and to tell him that he will be ashamed when he sees it on television.”