Mourinho should be sent to prison over Schweinsteiger 'bullying'

Dejan Stefanovic believes that the Germany international should initiate legal proceedings against his Manchester United boss over his treatment.

Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho should be sent to prison over his "bullying" of Bastian Schweinsteiger, according to a leading figure at FIFPro.

Schweinsteiger has found himself marginalised at Old Trafford only one year after his €9 million move to England from Bayern Munich, with reports suggesting he has been told to train with the reserves.

And Dejan Stefanovic - a board member at world players' union FIFPro - believes the World Cup winner has justifiable cause to take legal action against the club and Mourinho.

"It's clear bullying," he told BBC World Service Sport. "In Slovenia, we would have indicted Mourinho and asked for the highest penalty - three years in prison.

"This is clearly meant to discourage Bastian. Unfortunately, a lot of our fans accept that, because he's idolised and he's getting a lot of money, he can be treated differently. They do not perceive our rights as equal to their rights just because we earn a lot of money and that's not right.

"He should turn to the PFA and he should file a complaint and I would also seek a penalty for Mourinho.

"Mourinho is setting a bad example. I would take it to the ordinary court. In our case, the penal code is quite clear. If there is bullying and harassment, there's a prison sanction, a maximum of three years in prison.

"[This is] in Slovenia and in most countries in Europe, but nobody applies that [to football]. Usually, in our case, it's enough for us to call the club and just threaten but nobody seems to have done it yet in England."

 
"He should turn to the PFA and he should file a complaint and I would also seek a penalty for Mourinho."