Chelsea coach José Mourinho has decided to end his collaboration with Portuguese TV channel SIC, cancelling the monthly programme in which he commented on sporting themes.
Mourinho made his decision following last week’s programme that started two hours behind schedule. The show ended when Mourinho, speaking from London, was cut off in mid-flow after the live satellite link dropped. Mourinho was said to be angry over media misrepresentation of comments he made during the interview. He was also advised that appearances on the show, broadcast throughout the world, could be infringing regulations at Chelsea about media appearances.
Gestifute, the firm led by Jorge Mendes that represents José Mourinho in business matters, recently hired João Parreira to work on the coach’s image. It was rumoured that the new consultant decided that the appearances by Mourinho on SIC were not sufficiently prestigious, even though he was apparently being paid far more than political pundit Professor Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa. But a statement promised that Mourinho’s relationship with SIC would remain cordial and also assured the Portuguese public that “other forms of communication” would be maintained.
Another possible reason for Mourinho’s decision is internal pressure at Chelsea. A few weeks ago, in the face of speculation about an upgrading of Mourinho’s contract, an English journalist said that one of the stipulations of a new agreement would be a promise to “rein in appearances on the Portuguese media”.
