Galatasaray has announced plans to initiate criminal proceedings against Jose Mourinho and file official complaints with UEFA and FIFA, accusing the Fenerbahce coach of making racist remarks following a heated Turkish league match.
The club issued a statement after Monday’s 0-0 draw between the two title contenders, condemning Mourinho’s comments and vowing legal action. The 62-year-old Portuguese coach, who took charge of Fenerbahce last year after managing top clubs like Chelsea, Manchester United, Real Madrid, and Inter Milan, has previously faced disciplinary action for his outspoken criticism of Turkish football authorities.
Allegations and Legal Action
Galatasaray claims Mourinho has “persistently issued derogatory statements directed towards the Turkish people” and accused him of escalating his 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 stated.
Mourinho’s Controversial Comments
During his post-match interview, Mourinho welcomed the decision to appoint a foreign referee for the game, praising Slovenian official Slavko Vincic for delivering a “top performance.” However, he made a controversial remark about the fourth official, who was Turkish, saying:
“If you are the referee … would be a disaster.”
When discussing an early challenge in the match, Mourinho further remarked that a Turkish referee would have reacted with a yellow card “after the big dive and their bench jumping around like monkeys.”
Past Disciplinary Issues
This is not the first time Mourinho has faced scrutiny in Turkey. In November, he was handed a one-match ban and fined for his harsh criticism of Turkish football, where he accused the system of bias against Fenerbahce.
Despite these controversies, Mourinho has led Fenerbahce to a strong campaign, including a place in the Europa League round-of-16, where they will face Rangers next month.
The football world now awaits further developments as Galatasaray moves forward with its legal action.
