Galatasaray has accused Fenerbahce manager Jose Mourinho of making racist remarks and announced plans to take legal action against him following his controversial comments after their 0-0 draw in the Turkish Super Lig.
The club, in a statement on X, alleged that Mourinho had been making derogatory statements about the Turkish people since joining the league.
However, the situation escalated when the Portuguese coach used language that the club deemed inhumane.
“Today, his discourse has escalated beyond merely immoral comments into unequivocally inhumane rhetoric,” the club stated.
As a result, Galatasaray has vowed to file criminal charges and lodge complaints with both UEFA and FIFA.
“We hereby formally declare our intention to initiate criminal proceedings concerning the racist statements made by Jose Mourinho,” the club added.
While Galatasaray did not specify the exact statements in question, Mourinho had criticized the opposition’s reactions during the match, stating,
“I have also to thank the referee because with a Turkish referee after the big dive in the first minute, their bench jumping like monkeys on the top of the kid, with a Turkish referee you would have a yellow card after one minute and after five minutes I would have to change him.”
The match, which ended goalless, was officiated by Slovenian referee Slavko Vincic after both teams requested a foreign referee.
Mourinho later praised Vincic while criticizing Turkish officials.
“I went to the referees’ dressing room after the game. Of course, the fourth official was there, a Turkish referee. I told him [Vincic], ‘Thank you to come here because you come for a big match and you are responsible for a big match.’”
He continued, adding, “And I turned myself to the fourth official and I [said], ‘this match, if you are the referee, this match would be a disaster.’ And when I say him, I say the general tendency.”
Mourinho, known for his outspoken nature, has faced disciplinary action in the past for his comments on Turkish football.
In November, he was banned for one match and fined after suggesting that Turkish referees were biased against his team.
Meanwhile, Fenerbahce, currently second in the Super Lig and trailing Galatasaray by six points, has yet to issue an official statement regarding the accusations.
However, this incident has sparked widespread debate, with many questioning whether Mourinho’s comments crossed the line.
With the legal process now set to unfold, attention will be on UEFA and FIFA’s response to the complaint.
