Chelsea's Mourinho 'Congratulates' Referee Dean after Defeat  

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Chelsea's title challenge has petered out with a snarl after José Mourinho suffered his first Premier League home defeat over his two spells at the club and made his frustrations clear post-match at the performance of the referee, Mike Dean, as cited in The Guardian.

Sunderland inflicted the Portuguese's first league loss at Stamford Bridge in his 78 matches courtesy of a controversial penalty, flagged for by the assistant referee eight minutes from time, with the spot-kick converted by Fabio Borini, a former Chelsea player on loan on Wearside from Liverpool. The Italian's parent club can move five points clear at the top by beating Norwich City on Sunday lunchtime ahead of their meeting with Chelsea at Anfield next Sunday, with the initiative in the title race now very much with those on Merseyside.

That reality left the hosts livid here, with Mourinho and his coaching staff incensed at a number of the officials' decisions and tempers boiling over following Borini's conversion. The assistant manager, Rui Faria, threatened to enter the playing surface to berate the referee and had to be forcibly restrained by three members of the home side's coaching staff and the fourth official, Phil Dowd, with Mourinho tugging back his compatriot by his hair. Faria was eventually ushered down the tunnel having been sent to the stands, with Dean sure to include reference to the incident in his match report to the Football Association.

"I want to congratulate again Mike Dean. I think his performance was unbelievable and I think when referees have unbelievable performances, I think it's fair that as managers we give them praise. So, fantastic performance. He came here with one objective. To make a fantastic performance. And he did that," Mourinho said, mockingly, as quoted by The Guardian.

"Congratulations also to Mike Riley, the referees' boss. What they are doing through the whole season is fantastic, especially in the last couple of months, and in teams involved in the title race. Absolutely fantastic. I also congratulate Mr Riley," stated Mourinho.

THE GUARDIAN | DF