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How Jose Mourinho could avoid a touchline ban for Chelsea vs Manchester United despite FA charge

Jose Mourinho can avoid a touchline ban when Manchester United travel to Chelsea on Saturday in the Premier League if he plays his cards right.

Alexis Sanchez's added time header in United's 3-2 win against Newcastle United may have saved Mourinho's job for another week, but his actions after the game have landed him in trouble with the FA.

He was charged on Tuesday over comments he made in Portuguese to a television camera after the stunning comeback at Old Trafford and has until 6pm on Friday to respond the charges, which is important because this is how he could avoid a ban.

If Mourinho waits until the last few minutes to respond to the charge on Friday evening, a sanction will not be able to be imposed because of the time it takes to assemble a independent commission hearing.

The punishments for players that are charged are usually pre-determined, but a manager's case is different and will be decided after a hearing.

A warning, fine or touchline ban are the most likely outcomes if Mourinho is found guilty of using ‘abusive, insulting or improper language’. If he responds late and gets a touchline ban, it will most likely force him to watch his side face Everton from the stands in their next match because a verdict will not be reached before he travels to Stamford Bridge on Saturday lunchtime.

An FA spokesperson said: "Jose Mourinho has been charged following Manchester United's game against Newcastle United on October 6, 2018.

"It is alleged that his language at the end of the fixture, as captured by the broadcast footage, was abusive and/or insulting and/or improper. He has until 6pm on October 19, 2018 to respond to the charge."

Mourinho is said to have said something in Portuguese and made a gesture with his little finger while leaving the pitch after the Newcastle win. He said he is the subject of a media ‘manhunt’ when asked about it after the game. "It is a finger. Smaller than the others, but it is a finger," he added.