Galatasaray has announced plans to initiate criminal proceedings against Fenerbahce manager José Mourinho, accusing him of making “racist statements” following the tense 0-0 draw between the two Turkish giants on Monday. The club also intends to file official complaints with UEFA and FIFA regarding the remarks. However, neither Mourinho nor Fenerbahce has responded to the allegations.
Mourinho’s Controversial Comments
The controversy stems from Mourinho’s post-match press conference, where he criticized the Galatasaray bench for their reaction to an early incident involving Fenerbahce’s 19-year-old defender Yusuf Akcicek. The Portuguese coach remarked:
“After the big dive in the first minute and their bench jumping like monkeys on the top of the kid… with a Turkish referee, you would have a yellow card after one minute, and after five minutes, I would have to change him.”
In addition to these comments, Mourinho reiterated his concerns about Turkish officiating, stating that a local referee would have made the match a “disaster.” Monday’s match was refereed by Slovenian official Slavko Vincic after both clubs requested a non-Turkish referee for the high-stakes derby.
Galatasaray’s Strong Response
In a strongly worded statement, Galatasaray accused Mourinho of repeatedly making derogatory remarks about Turkey and its people since his arrival as Fenerbahce’s manager. The club declared:
“Since the commencement of his managerial duties in Turkey, Fenerbahce manager Jose Mourinho has persistently issued derogatory statements directed towards the Turkish people. Today, his discourse has escalated beyond merely immoral comments into unequivocally inhumane rhetoric.
“We hereby formally declare our intention to initiate criminal proceedings concerning the racist statements made by Jose Mourinho, and shall accordingly submit official complaints to UEFA and FIFA.”
The club also called upon Fenerbahce to take a stance, questioning whether they would uphold their proclaimed “exemplary moral values” in response to Mourinho’s behavior.
Mourinho’s History of Clashes in Turkey
Mourinho, a two-time Champions League winner with a long history at elite European clubs such as Chelsea, Manchester United, and Real Madrid, has frequently been at odds with Turkish football authorities. Since joining Fenerbahce last summer, he has been fined and banned for openly criticizing refereeing standards in the country.
Before Monday’s match, Mourinho welcomed the decision to appoint a foreign referee, previously describing the Turkish footballing environment as “toxic.”
“I think it’s important for the credibility, for the image of the match,” he said before kick-off.
With tensions escalating, all eyes are now on UEFA, FIFA, and Fenerbahce to determine the next steps in this developing controversy.
