The Football Association has revealed Jose Mourinho's comments about Anthony Taylor that landed him a fine were deemed to have brought "an additional layer of pressure'' upon the referee and created a "sword of Damocles situation''.
The remarks Manchester United boss Mourinho made about Taylor last month led to him being fined £50,000 and warned as to his future conduct.
The Altrincham-based official's appointment for United's Oct. 17 Premier League away clash with Liverpool had raised eyebrows in some quarters.
And when Mourinho was asked about that ahead of the match, he said: "I don't want to say anything about it, but I think Mr Taylor is a very good referee.