Fenerbahçe manager José Mourinho has been handed a four-match suspension and fined by the Turkish Football Federation (TFF) following controversial remarks made after the 0-0 Istanbul derby against Galatasaray. The match, refereed by Slovenian Slavko Vincic, saw Mourinho criticize Turkish referees and make comments that Galatasaray labeled as “racist” and “derogatory.”
Key Incidents:
Mourinho stated during his post-match press conference that the Galatasaray bench was “jumping like monkeys” after an early foul and suggested that the match would have been a “disaster” if officiated by a Turkish referee.
He also reportedly entered the referees’ dressing room post-match to criticize the fourth official, who was Turkish, accusing Turkish football of “chaos and disorder”.
Sanctions Imposed:
Four-match ban: Mourinho will miss Fenerbahçe’s next league games, including fixtures against Antalyaspor and Trabzonspor.
Fines: He was fined a total of 1.617 million Turkish lira (£35,000) for his remarks during and after the match.
The TFF stated that Mourinho’s comments were “contrary to sports ethics,” could incite violence, and were divisive in nature.
Reactions:
Galatasaray: The club announced plans to file criminal complaints with FIFA and UEFA over Mourinho’s alleged racist remarks. They accused him of persistently making derogatory statements about Turkish people since his arrival in Turkey.
Fenerbahçe: Defended Mourinho, claiming his comments were taken out of context and distorted, insisting they did not reflect racism.
Didier Drogba: The former Chelsea striker defended Mourinho on social media, describing him as a father figure who had always shown respect during their time together.
This incident has sparked significant controversy in Turkish football, with both clubs issuing strong statements and legal actions potentially looming.