Jose Mourinho quits role on UEFA board after being banned for Anthony Taylor abuse

Jose Mourinho has stepped down from his role on UEFA's board following a fall-out with the body's president Aleksander Ceferin.

Mourinho joined the board in April, which was set up for leading figures to weigh in on the biggest issues in sport.

However, the Roma boss has since been banned for four Europa League matches as a result of his actions in last season's final.

Following Roma's penalty shootout defeat to Sevilla, Mourinho waited for referee Anthony Taylor in the carpark after the game where he proceeded to lambast the Englishman, labelling him a "f****** disgrace".

Taylor and his family were later subject to an attack from Roma supporters at Budapest airport, with several figures throughout the football community taking a stand against Mourinho's actions.

The former Manchester United boss was later charged and found guilty of using insulting or abusive language towards Taylor, leading to his four-match ban. Although several others believe his punishment should be much stronger.

And as the friction between Mourinho and UEFA continues to escalate, Mourinho has decided to resign from his role on the board.

The Portuguese manager communicated his decision in a letter to UEFA's chief of football Zvonimir Boban, insisting that he felt obligated to step down.

The statement read: “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 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 board is formed of coaches and players both past and present who meet once a year to tackle the issues surrounding the laws of the game, refereeing and the football calendar.

The likes of Carlo Ancelotti and Paolo Maldini are also members of the board, with UEFA hailing its creation back in April.

"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," read a statement from the governing body.

"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."

Topics: Jose Mourinho, Roma, UEFA, Europa League, Football

Joe Adams

Joe is a Journalist for SPORTbible with a primary focus on football. He has previously covered a number of other sports including boxing, rugby and F1. Wishes he was born left-footed.

@joeadamsjourno