Galatasaray has accused Fenerbahce's head coach, Jose Mourinho, of making racist statements against the Turkish people and has announced intentions to initiate criminal proceedings against the Fenerbahce coach.
Bet Football on Bet365
The Super Lig title rivals played to a 0-0 draw on Monday night. After the match, the former managers of Chelsea, Manchester United, Tottenham, and Real Madrid criticized the behavior of the Galatasaray bench, stating they were "jumping like monkeys" in response to an early challenge.
Mourinho praised the Turkish Football Federation's decision to appoint a foreign referee for the match, commending referee Vincic's performance. He stated it would have been a "disaster" if a Turkish official had officiated.
I must also thank the referee. 'He had enough honesty to manage this match well. They tried to get a yellow card for our 18-year-old player from the first minute, but the referee managed the game well.' 'Everyone on the opponent's bench was jumping like monkeys. If it were a Turkish referee, they would have immediately given the card, and I would have had to take the player off in a minute.'
In response to Mourinho's comments, Galatasaray issued a strong statement, accompanied by the hashtag #SayNoToRacism.
"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. Furthermore, 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."
Earlier this season, Mourinho received a one-match ban and was fined nearly £15,000 for his reaction to Fenerbahce's 3-2 Super Lig victory over Trabzonspor.
He was charged with "unsportsmanlike behavior towards opposing team fans" and "diminishing the value of Turkish football and... discrediting the impartiality of the referees and other match officials" during an outspoken post-match interview.
Bet Super Lig on 1xBet
