Fenerbahce’s manager has received a four-match suspension and a fine of £35,000 due to comments made following the tense goalless draw against rivals Galatasaray. This incident arose after Galatasaray accused the Portuguese coach of making inappropriate statements during his post-match analysis.
Mourinho commented that the Galatasaray bench was “jumping like monkeys” and expressed his preference for Slovenian referee Slavko Vincic over Turkish officials, a sentiment shared by both clubs ahead of the fixture. In response, Galatasaray announced intentions to pursue “criminal proceedings concerning the derogatory statements” attributed to Mourinho, claiming they were directed at the Turkish people.
On Thursday, the Turkish Football Federation (TFF) confirmed the sanctions imposed on Mourinho following two disciplinary matters. The TFF outlined that Mourinho made “derogatory and offensive statements” towards the fourth official and accused Turkish football of “chaos and disorder.” This led to a two-match ban from both the dressing room and touchline, along with a fine of 117,000 Turkish lira (£2,500).
Additionally, the TFF highlighted that Mourinho’s remarks during the press conference were deemed contrary to sports ethics and could instigate violence, warranting a further fine of 1.5 million TL (£32,655) and another two-match ban.
As a result of these sanctions, Mourinho will be absent from Fenerbahce’s crucial league matchups against Antalyaspor, Samsunspor, Bodrum, and Trabzonspor.
Galatasaray currently leads Fenerbahce by six points at the top of the Super Lig and is on track to secure their 25th league title this season, which would add a fifth star to their crest. In light of the racism allegations, former Chelsea striker Didier Drogba defended Mourinho, asserting their close bond during their time together at Galatasaray. Meanwhile, Fenerbahce firmly stated that Mourinho’s comments were “taken completely out of context” and should not be associated with racism.
