Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho charged with improper conduct

Chelsea boss Jose Mourinho has been charged with improper conduct after being sent off during his side's 1-0 defeat by Aston Villa last Saturday.

Mourinho walked onto the pitch to speak to referee Chris Foy after Chelsea midfielder Ramires was shown a red card late in the game.

Another Blues player, Willian, had also been dismissed earlier in the match.

Mourinho has until 18:00 GMT on Monday, 24 March, to respond to the Football Association charge.

The Portuguese, whose lead at the top of the Premier League was trimmed to four points as a result of the loss, was critical of Foy after the game at Villa Park.

Ramires was shown a straight red card for a two-footed tackle on Villa's Karim El Ahmadi, an incident that sparked a touchline fracas.

Mourinho said he was trying to speak to Foy because Ramires was pushed by Villa striker Gabriel Agbonlahor, who had been substituted.

"I don't know why I was sent off," Mourinho told BBC Radio 5 live. "I asked, but the referee refused to speak to me."

Mourinho also said he tried to speak to Foy after the game, but that the referee had refused.