The Football Association have decided not to take action against José Mourinho, who admitted calling Mike Riley, the referee, a “son of a whore” during Chelsea's FA Cup quarter-final with Tottenham Hotspur yesterday.

Mourinho praised his players’ resilience after they came back from 3-1 down to draw 3-3 at Stamford Bridge but reserved his strongest words for Riley, whom he called a “filho da puta” during a confrontation in the players’ tunnel at half-time. After studying Riley's report however, the FA opted to let the comment go without punishment.

Martin Jol was also left cursing after Tottenham appeared to have blown their chances of easing though to the semi-finals. And Steve McClaren could have been forgiven for uttering the odd swear word because the replay will take place on the same evening as Manchester United’s rematch with Middlesbrough, a week today, meaning that 16 England players could be in action only five days before their crucial European Championship qualifier against Israel in Tel Aviv on March 24. If the sequel generates half as much action as this blockbusting first instalment, all neutrals will be grateful.

Tottenham looked on course to inflict Mourinho’s first domestic defeat at Stamford Bridge in 67 matches after first-half goals from Dimitar Berbatov, Hossam Ghaly and Michael Essien’s own goal, but Chelsea hit back through a brace from Frank Lampard and a spectacular equaliser from Salomon Kalou less than four minutes from time.

“I say these kind of words ten times in every 15 words,” Mourinho said after his outburst at Riley. “The word can be abusive, but I don’t mean it to be abusive. I say it to my players and say it to myself when I’m not happy with something. I say it 50 times a game, 50 times in training. It’s the same word I use to criticise the ball when it hits the post.”

Mourinho has “previous” with Riley after the match away to Reading this season when Chelsea lost two goalkeepers to head injuries, and accused him of favouring Tottenham. “I told him that there were too many decisions against us, but it worked the other way as the second half was worse than the first,” Mourinho said.

“Every free kick in midfield was against Chelsea. All season it has not been easy in our matches with Mr Riley. Against Liverpool, [Mohamed] Sissoko should have been sent off but wasn’t and a minute later [Michael] Ballack was off and we had to play with ten men.

“At Reading we played with ten men, lost two goalkeepers and the opponents did not even get a yellow card.”

Jol also criticised the performance of the Yorkshire official, particularly his decisions to book Lee Young Pyo and Paul Stalteri early in the second half. “I don’t get on with Riley so will have to leave it,” he said. “If you look at the yellow cards he gave us you will see it. I told him not to be influenced by the crowd at half-time, but he gave two bookings straight away. I don’t complain about referees as it’s an awful job.”

The teams’ reward for a pulsating afternoon’s entertainment is the unwelcome prospect of three matches in the next six days. Mourinho believes that the momentum is with Chelsea, while he remains confident that the breakdown in John Terry’s contract talks will be only temporary.

“It’s better for him and for the club if he has a contract until 2015, but if they take a few more months I don’t see a drama,” Mourinho said. “We’re happier than them [Tottenham], as they had everything in their hands and everything was lost for us.”

Stuart Pearce’s position as manager of Manchester City is under further scrutiny after his team’s 2-0 defeat by Blackburn Rovers at Ewood Park. One enraged City supporter ran on to the pitch but was apprehended before being able to confront Pearce. “Believe me, I am as frustrated as that fan is,” Pearce said.

Watford booked their place in the last four by scrambling to a 1-0 victory over Plymouth Argyle at Home Park.