Istanbul – Turkish Süper Lig leaders Galatasaray have announced plans to initiate criminal proceedings and report Fenerbahçe manager Jose Mourinho to both FIFA and UEFA following what they described as racist remarks made during a tense league match. The incident unfolded after a 0-0 draw between Galatasaray and Fenerbahçe on Monday night.
Mourinho, who had welcomed the appointment of non-Turkish referee Slavko Vinčić for the match, praised the official’s performance during his post-match conference. “The performance of the referee was a top performance,” he remarked, adding that such decisions helped avoid potential bias. However, his comments took a controversial turn when he recounted an exchange with the fourth official—a Turkish referee—implying that a native referee would have treated his 19-year-old defender Yusuf Akcicek more harshly. “A Turkish referee would have given [Akcicek] a yellow card after one minute,” Mourinho said, his remarks drawing swift condemnation.
In response, Galatasaray issued a statement accusing Mourinho of persistently delivering derogatory comments towards the Turkish people since his appointment in Turkey.
“Today, his discourse has escalated beyond merely immoral comments into unequivocally inhumane rhetoric,” the club declared. Galatasaray vowed to submit formal complaints to both UEFA and FIFA and to pursue criminal proceedings for what they consider racist behavior. The club also indicated that they would be closely monitoring Fenerbahçe’s response, emphasizing the importance of upholding moral values in Turkish football.
This is not the first time Mourinho has drawn controversy in Turkey. Earlier this season, he criticized the officiating environment in the Süper Lig, and in November he was fined and banned for his remarks, which he claimed were part of a broader battle against systemic bias.
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