Galatasaray has accused Fenerbahce manager Jose Mourinho of making “racist statements” following a 0-0 draw between the two bitter Istanbul rivals.
The Portuguese coach reportedly said the Galatasaray bench was “jumping like monkeys” during the match. Mourinho also repeated his criticism of Turkish referees. The game was refereed by Slovenia’s Slavko Vincic, who was appointed after a request from both clubs for a foreign official to take charge.
Galatasaray has announced plans to launch criminal proceedings against the 62-year-old Mourinho, stating that his comments were “unequivocally inhumane rhetoric.” The club also intends to submit official complaints to UEFA and FIFA.
“We hereby formally declare our intention to initiate criminal proceedings concerning the racist statements made by Jose Mourinho,” Galatasaray said in a statement. “We shall diligently observe the stance adopted by Fenerbahce — an institution professing to uphold ‘exemplary moral values’ — in response to the reprehensible conduct exhibited by their manager.”
The statement continued, “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.”
Fenerbahce has yet to comment on the allegations. The club is currently second in the Super Lig, six points behind Galatasaray. The incident has sparked widespread outrage, with many calling for Mourinho to face disciplinary action.
The controversy has also raised questions about the use of racist language in football and the need for stricter penalties against those who engage in such behavior. As the situation unfolds, it remains to be seen how Fenerbahce and the football authorities will respond to the allegations against Mourinho.
