Jose Mourinho is heading into double figures for missed press conferences, but UEFA will allow this one.
The 2010 European treble winner has missed nine pre-match media sessions for Benfica this season, including before facing AFS when he was expected to be asked about the Gianluca Prestianni case.
Primeira Liga rules allow such moves without a sanction, with Mourinho instead talking to Benfica TV and then attending his post-match duties.
However, UEFA do not.
Yet Mourinho won’t be punished for not previewing the second leg of Benfica’s Champions League play-off tie against Real Madrid due to his suspension.
The Portuguese was sent off at the end of the ill-tempered clash and will now field his assistant João Tralhão instead.
UEFA rules allow Jose Mourinho to avoid press conference
UEFA rules state: “Each club must make its head coach and one player available for interviews the day before each match.
“Each club must hold a pre-match press conference the day before the match.
“Each press conference must be attended by the team’s head coach and at least one player.
“If the head coach is suspended for the match, clubs have the option of making the assistant coach available for the pre-match press conference.
“The two press conferences must be organised jointly by the two clubs and UEFA so that the media can attend both.”
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