FA to take action and calm tensions between Antonio Conte and Jose Mourinho

THE FA will urge the League Managers’ Association to step in as peacemakers in the row between Antonio Conte and Jose Mourinho.

Man Utd boss Jose Mourinho and Chelsea manager
Antonio Conte in war of words  

Chelsea and Manchester United’s warring managers are facing the prospect of disciplinary action for their public slanging match.

Both clubs will be asked to supply transcripts of their press conferences over the last three days before FA officials decide whether to charge the pair.

In the meantime, the LMA will be asked to help calm the tension between two of their highest profile members.

Mourinho started the war of words by appearing to call his successor at Chelsea a clown for his touchline antics.

Conte responded on Friday by suggesting Mourinho had senile dementia and was losing his mind.

The United boss hit back immediately with another dig at Conte saying: “What has never happened to me and will never happen is to be suspended for match fixing.”

Conte received a four-month suspension while at Juventus for failing to report match-fixing at his previous club Siena. but was later cleared of any wrongdoing.

That provoked another furious response from Conte on Saturday following Chelsea’s FA Cup draw at Norwich when repeatedly referred to his Portuguese rival as “a little man.”

Their mutual dislike started last season when Mourinho told Conte he was out of order for his excessive celebrations after Chelsea had beaten United 4-0 at Stamford Bridge.

The clubs are due to meet in the Premier League at Old Trafford on February 25 with Conte adding: “Me and him face to face. I’m ready. I don’t know if he’s ready.”

Meanwhile, Conte is convinced he can get new £15m signing Ross Barkley into England’s World Cup squad.

Barkley has 22 caps but hasn’t made an international appearance since May 2016.

Conte said: “We are talking about a player with a lot of talent, although he has been out for a long time with a bad injury.

“He was in the national team before and I think he can still earn an England call up for the World Cup.

“I hope he does because that will mean that he is doing really well for us. But the priority now is to get him fit.”