Roma owners forced to apologise for Mourinho's behaviour as he faces lengthy ban

Roma's Friedkin owners felt obliged to enter the dressing room of referee Luca Pairetto to apologise for Jose Mourinho's behaviour after the Portuguese coach was sent-off on Saturday.

The Giallorossi's owner Dan Friedkin felt responsibility for calming tensions after Mourinho's antics on the touchline, which may now earn him a fresh suspension for upcoming Serie A matches.

It was another eventful evening for the Portuguese boss, who saw his heavily depleted side battle back from two goals down to rescue a point at home to Hellas Verona.

The Giallorossi were two goals down after 20 minutes as Antonin Barak and Adrien Tameze struck for the visitors but rallied in the second half as young substitutes Cristian Volpato and Edoardo Bove struck to rescue a point.

It is not the first time Mourinho has seen red this season for Roma, having been dismissed against Napoli in Serie A earlier this game having been booked twice by the officials.

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He had even been dismissed in a friendly defeat to Spanish side Real Betis before the game began, in an encounter when he tried to enter the pitch to confront the referee.

Reports from Italian media outlet La Stampa are cited as claiming that Mourinho's comments to referee Pairetto on Saturday will land him in hot water with the Italian football authorities.

The report alleges that Mourinho shouted towards the referee: "They sent you on purpose, Juve sent you..."

This may mean that Mourinho faces a three-game sanction by the FIGC (Italian Football Federation) and the club's Friedkin owners felt obliged, the report adds, to personally apologise to the officials in order to minimise the damage done by the comments.

Pairetto's brother Alberto has been working for Juventus over the last eight years, first as Head of Events and then as Head of Stadium Revenue.

Pairetto, 37, is one of the most experienced Serie A officials. He has overseen 92 games in Italy's top-flight and was promoted to international referee this past September.

Having been tetchy all during the match, Mourinho's frustrations boiled over as the game ticked into injury time and with his home side pushing for a dramatic winner.

The episode began with Mourinho pointing at his head while shouting at the referee, hinting that he was making bad decisions during the game.

Yet he then dramatically took a ball on the touchline and booted it high into the area - which gave referee Pairetto no option but to send him off.

Mourinho then had to be restrained by goalkeeping coach Nuno Santos as he protested the decision and there was a delay in the game before the former Chelsea and Manchester United boss was removed from the touchline.

Never one to shy away from attention, he made sure to embrace opposition manager Igor Tudor before showing the home fans that he was appreciative of their support.

The Portuguese boss is no stranger to controversy and outspoken comments, but while a draw at home to Verona was not overly beneficial for his side - the sending off has overshadowed a fine comeback by his inexperienced and heavily depleted team.

Roma have slipped to eighth in the Serie A standings and remain six points outside the top four, which would have been seen as the minimum objective at the beginning of the campaign.

Mourinho's side have also been eliminated from the Coppa Italia with their only trophy ambition this campaign being in the Europa Conference League.