Jose Mourinho 'very happy' with FA clampdown on abuse of officials as he insists his behaviour is 'fantastic'

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Jose Mourinho has welcomed the Football Association's crackdown on abuse of match officials, despite his, at times, fractious relationship with football's authorities.

A new code of conduct will see touchline staff who abuse officials first given a verbal warning before being sent to the stand in the event of a repeat offence.

The Chelsea manager says he behaved well last term, before pointedly referring to the moment he was pushed in the chest by Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger at Stamford Bridge last October.

Jose Mourinho argues with officials at Old Trafford in October 2014 (left) and in a pre-season friendly in Slovenia in July last year

Mourinho's assistant Rui Faria has to be physically restrained as he goes for referee Mike Dean

Mourinho argues with Chris Foy at Villa Park in March 2014 and with Mark Clattenburg at Stamford Bridge in January this year... but he said his behaviour was 'fantastic' last season

'I am very happy because last season I had fantastic behaviour on the touchline. I was never sent to the stands, I was never punished for my behaviour,' Mourinho told talkSPORT.

'I always had good relations with the fourth official I had a new experience in my career, which is always welcome, because I was pushed in the technical area by another manager and it was a good experience for me to keep my emotional control.'

Mourinho is seen in a heated discussion with officials at Anfield in January of this year

That was the moment Mourinho and Wenger's long-running feud turned physical and the pair did not shake hands after last Sunday's Community Shield, when the Frenchman claimed a first win over the Portuguese at the 14th attempt.

Mourinho insists he would shake Wenger's hand in future.

He said: 'As a manager in a football stadium, I never refuse a handshake with a rival. By respect of my club and by respect of football I would never refuse a handshake with a football manager in a football stadium.'

Arsene Wenger and Mourinho square up in October last year. They clashed again at Wembley on Sunday