Everton's Mourinho Threat May Be Put to Test

Everton's resolve to sue Jose Mourinho is likely to be put to an immediate test, with the Football Association suggesting that it is unlikely to take action over comments by the Chelsea manager that Andrew Johnson is a serial diver.

The Merseysiders, acting also on behalf of Johnson's representatives BaseSoccer, were due to submit a formal complaint to Soho Square last night, incensed by Mourinho's observations in the wake of Chelsea's 3-2 win at Goodison Park on Sunday.

The Portuguese said Johnson was "dangerous", "untrustworthy" and "chased penalties", adding: "The linesman didn't dive, the referee didn't dive but I think the player was embarrassed."

Everton officials claimed those comments were "quite possibly defamatory", with the damage inflicted on Johnson's reputation likely to detract from the club-record £8.6m signing's long-term value. The club and the player's agent, Anthony McFarlane, were insisting Mourinho should retract his statement or face disciplinary action, but the FA's initial reaction to the evidence it had seen was that the Chelsea manager had not overstepped the mark and, therefore, was unlikely to warrant sanction. The governing body will still scrutinise television and radio footage of Mourinho's comments today after receiving Everton's complaint yesterday afternoon but, if it confirms it will not be seeking an explanation from the Chelsea manager, the initial insistence by the club and BaseSoccer that they would resort to taking legal action against the Portuguese will be tested.

Mourinho had to be restrained by the fourth official 18 minutes into Sunday's game after Johnson tumbled over the Chelsea goalkeeper, Hilario. Television replays suggested the forward, running at speed, had been tugged by the centre-half Khalid Boulahrouz and had in fact vaulted Hilario to avoid making contact with the Portuguese, thus avoiding a possible repeat of the injury sustained by Petr Cech in his clash with Reading's Stephen Hunt in October.

Johnson, who moved from Crystal Palace in the summer, scored six goals in his first seven appearances for Everton but has now failed to register in his last 11 games, a sequence stretching back to the end of September.

The Professional Footballers' Association chief executive, Gordon Taylor, sprang to his defence last night. "I have always found him a 100% wholehearted, committed player," he said. "He's a forward, a quick mover and there will be occasions when he won't get a penalty when he feels justifiably he should have got one.

"When criticism comes from within the game and biting at other managers [and] players, again, people in glass houses shouldn't throw stones because it can end up on your own doorstep with your own players. I think it's got to be acknowledged a manager is responsible for his own players and it's only going to create antagonism and resentment towards a manager and his players when they hear such comments coming from another manager."

Everton have finally signed the Brazilian midfielder Anderson da Silva after immigration problems were resolved. The club agreed to buy him from the Uruguayan side Nacional a year ago but he could not join them because he did not possess the necessary passport. That issue has now been resolved and Da Silva, 24, has signed a short-term deal.

Wigan's Lee McCulloch has been banned for three matches by the FA after admitting a charge of violent conduct. He was caught by television cameras punching Sheffield United's captain, Chris Morgan, during Saturday's Barclays Premiership match at the JJB Stadium.

The suspension takes place with immediate effect, meaning the 28-year-old will miss this Saturday's home clash with Chelsea, the Boxing Day game at Manchester United and the match at Watford on December 30.

Neither the referee, Peter Walton, nor the other match officials saw the incident, which resulted in Morgan suffering cuts and a badly swollen right eye.