London: Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho was left seething after his team were denied what he described as a "Big Ben" penalty during the 1-1 Premier League draw at Southampton on Sunday.
Cesc Fabregas was shown a yellow card after tumbling in a challenge with Southampton defender Matt Targett, infuriating Morinho whose players have been accused of diving in several recent incidents.
"I think it is a scandal because it is not a small penalty - it is a penalty like Big Ben," Mourinho told the BBC.
"In this country - and I am happy with that, more than happy with that - we will just say that it was a big mistake with a big influence in the result.
"I am happy that it is this way, with respect for the referee. He made a big mistake like I make, like the players make sometimes."
Chelsea`s Branislav Ivanovic, Diego Costa and Gary Cahill have all been involved in controversy over diving in recent games and Mourinho believes there is a conspiracy against his team.
"They are not incidents," he said. "That`s a campaign, that`s a clear campaign. People, pundits, commentators, coaches from other teams - they react with Chelsea in a way they don`t react to other teams.
"They put lots of pressure on the referee and the referee makes a mistake like this. We lose two points, Fabregas earns a yellow card."
Southampton manager Ronald Koeman was not sure about the decision.
"If the referee thinks it`s simulation then you have to give the player a yellow card," said the Dutchman whose team have consolidated fourth place in the table following a mini-slump in form.
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