Galatasaray have announced that they intend to report Jose Mourinho to UEFA and FIFA for alleged ‘racist’ comments the Fenerbahce head coach made following their match this evening.
The top-of-the-table Turkish Super Lig clash ended goalless to ensure Galatasaray preserved their eight-point lead over Mourinho’s Fenerbahce at the summit.
But not for the first time in his managerial career, Mourinho’s comments have overshadowed the game itself, with the Portuguese taking aim at Galatasaray’s coaching staff for their behaviour across the 90 minutes.
During an explosive post-match press conference, the former Manchester United, Chelsea and Real Madrid boss, amongst other things, accused the opposition dugout of ‘jumping like monkeys’ after referee Slavko Vincic waved away Galatasaray’s appeals for a foul in the opening minute.
‘I have to thank the referee because with a Turkish referee, after the big dive in the first minute, and their bench jumping like monkeys on the top of the kid,’ Mourinho told reporters at his post-match press conference.
‘If it was a Turkish ref he would have a yellow card after one minute and after five minutes I would have to change him.
‘So thankfully it was a perfect experience for him.’
Shortly after Mourinho faced the media, an official statement on Galatasaray’s website said that the club would be submitting ‘official complaints’, accusing the self-proclaimed Special One of ‘racism’ towards Turkish people.
‘Since the commencement of his managerial duties in Turkey, Fenerbahçe manager Jose Mourinho has persistently issued derogatory statements directed towards the Turkish people,’ the statement read.
‘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 Fenerbahçe—an institution professing to uphold “exemplary moral values”—in response to the reprehensible conduct exhibited by their manager.’
Galatasaray shared the message along with the slogan #SayNoToRacism on their social media pages.
More to follow.
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