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Turkish club Galatasaray has announced plans to take legal action against Fenerbahçe manager José Mourinho, accusing him of making "racist statements" following Monday’s goalless draw between the two sides. The club also intends to file official complaints with UEFA and FIFA.
In a statement, Galatasaray condemned Mourinho’s remarks, claiming they went beyond sportsmanship and entered the realm of offensive rhetoric. “Since taking over at Fenerbahçe, José Mourinho has consistently made derogatory remarks about the Turkish people. His latest statements have crossed the line into inhumane rhetoric,” the club said.
While Galatasaray did not specify which comments they were referring to, Mourinho's post-match press conference included remarks that sparked controversy. The Portuguese coach was critical of the Galatasaray bench’s reactions to an incident involving his 19-year-old defender, Yusuf Akcicek. He described their behavior as "jumping like monkeys," a phrase that has drawn widespread criticism.
Mourinho also reiterated his concerns about Turkish refereeing, praising the decision to appoint Slovenian referee Slavko Vinčić for the match. He suggested that if a Turkish official had been in charge, the game would have been marred by poor officiating. “I told the fourth official, who was Turkish, that if he had been the referee, the match would have been a disaster,” Mourinho said.
Galatasaray’s statement emphasized their commitment to pursuing the matter through legal channels. “We will initiate criminal proceedings and closely monitor Fenerbahçe’s response, given their claims of upholding moral values,” the club said.
Neither Mourinho nor Fenerbahçe has publicly responded to the accusations. The controversy adds to ongoing tensions in Turkish football, where Mourinho has previously criticized the refereeing standards, calling the environment “toxic.”
As the Super Lig title race intensifies, this latest dispute is likely to further fuel the rivalry between the two Istanbul giants.
Featured Image Credit: Instagram / @josemourinho, Unsplash / Ahmet Kurt
