Legal War Looms as Galatasaray Accuses Mourinho of Racism, Fenerbahce Prepares to Fight Back.
Fenerbahce, a prominent Turkish football club, is preparing to take legal action after their manager, Jose Mourinho, was accused of making racist remarks by their fierce rivals, Galatasaray.
In an exclusive interview with Mail Sport, Fenerbahce’s vice president, Acun Ilicali, confirmed that the club has been in serious talks with its legal team following the intense and controversial match between the two teams on Monday, February 24. The game ended in a 0-0 draw, but not without its drama.
After the match, Mourinho, who has previously managed top clubs like Chelsea, Manchester United, and Tottenham, was accused of racial discrimination. The controversy started with comments he made about the Galatasaray bench, saying they were “jumping like monkeys” after a challenge early in the game. He also suggested that the match had improved because it wasn’t officiated by a Turkish referee, but by Slovenian Slavko Vincic.
In response, Galatasaray condemned the remarks, releasing an official statement saying they would pursue criminal proceedings and lodge complaints with UEFA and FIFA.
Soon after, footage surfaced showing Galatasaray’s head coach, Okan Buruk, energetically jumping up and down on the sidelines during the match. This prompted Ilicali to defend Mourinho, claiming that the coach’s intentions were not racist at all.
“We are absolutely certain that Mourinho’s comments were not racist,” Ilicali told Mail Sport. “He has built a career with positive relationships across the world with people from all backgrounds. It’s clear that the accusations are misguided, and it’s insulting to even suggest such things.”
He further explained, “Mourinho wasn’t making a racial comment; he was simply describing their movement—just like saying someone runs like a rabbit or acts like a snake. We often use animals metaphorically in everyday life, and that’s all he was doing.”
Ilicali went on to say that Fenerbahce would take legal action against Galatasaray for what he called a “disgusting accusation,” confirming that the club had already consulted with lawyers about the matter.
Galatasaray, on the other hand, released a strongly worded statement, accusing Mourinho of making consistently derogatory remarks about the Turkish people since his arrival in the country. The statement, which included the slogan “Say No to Racism,” called the coach’s remarks “inhumane” and announced their intent to pursue legal action while also submitting official complaints to UEFA and FIFA. They also expressed concern over how Fenerbahce would respond, given the club’s professed commitment to upholding moral values.
This ongoing conflict has sparked a heated debate in Turkish football, with both clubs standing firm in their positions as the legal process continues.
