With no legitimate Premier League title race to consume us right now, many football observers have instead fixated on the war of words between Chelsea manager Antonio Conte and Manchester United boss Jose Mourinho. As the row has escalated, many media voices have called it a terrible thing for football, and one Daily Mail writer even called for the authorities to step in and take action; with the hopes of ending the very public, very hostile back and forth.
According to ESPN UK though, it’s not likely going to happen. At least not via the Football Association.
“Jose Mourinho and Antonio Conte will escape censure by the Football Association over their increasingly acrimonious war of words, with the governing body currently having no plans to intervene in the row between the Manchester United and Chelsea managers, sources have told ESPN FC.“
The FA, right now, is hoping that the two men can resolve this situation itself, but the governing body could change their position should this tiff extend even further. Both men currently seem intent on having the last word here, and until one of them changes, the back and forth will continue.
We’re observing two very strong personalities with extremely large egos and bad blood that goes back to October 2016. The two men have traded barbs here and there since the Blues 4-0 home rout over United back then, but the feud did not boil over until this past week.
Let’s review:
Mourinho made comments about how he doesn’t act like a clown on the touchline. Conte responded by saying Mourinho is suffering from amnesia, not recalling his past antics. Mourinho retaliated by bringing up match-fixing. Conte fired back by calling Mourinho a little man and a hypocrite.
If the FA do eventually step in, it would not be without precedent. As ESPN points out, the Premier League once stepped in to encourage a halt to public comments between Sir Alex Ferguson and Arsene Wenger in 2005.
Paul M. Banks runs The Sports Bank.net and TheBank.News, which is partnered with News Now. Banks, a former writer for the Washington Times, NBC Chicago.com and Chicago Tribune.com, currently contributes regularly to WGN CLTV and the Tribune company’s blogging community Chicago Now.
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