Galatasaray to Report Mourinho for Alleged Racist Remarks
Feb 24, 2025, 07:25 PM ET
In a dramatic turn of events in the Turkish Süper Lig, league leaders Galatasaray have announced their intention to “initiate criminal proceedings” against Fenerbahçe manager Jose Mourinho. The club plans to report him to both FIFA and UEFA over what they describe as “racist statements.”
This development follows a tense 0-0 draw between the two sides in Istanbul on Monday night. The match, which was already charged with the usual intensity of a derby, took a controversial turn with Mourinho’s post-match comments.
Mourinho, known for his outspoken nature, had earlier expressed his approval of the appointment of a non-Turkish referee for the match. Slovenian Slavko Vinčić was chosen to officiate, and Mourinho did not hold back in his praise for the referee’s performance.
“The performance of the referee was a top performance,” Mourinho stated during his post-match news conference. “Anyone, not just from this country but also abroad, watched a big football match. I think the man responsible for that was the referee.”
He further elaborated on his appreciation by saying, “I went to the referee’s dressing room after the game. Of course, the fourth official was there, a Turkish referee. And I told him [the referee], thank you [for coming] here.”
However, it was his subsequent comments that have sparked outrage. Mourinho reportedly turned to the fourth official and remarked, “I turn myself to the fourth official and I told [him] this match, if you are the referee … would be a disaster. When I say him, I say the general tendency.”
The controversy deepened when Mourinho was questioned about an incident involving his 19-year-old defender Yusuf Akcicek. Mourinho’s response was, “Again, I have to thank the referee because with a Turkish referee after the big dive and the first minute and their bench jumping like monkeys on top of the kids.”
He added, “A Turkish referee would have [given Akcicek] a yellow card after one minute, and after five minutes I would have to change him.”
In response, Galatasaray issued a strong statement: “Since the commencement of his managerial duties in Türkiye, Fenerbahçe manager Jose Mourinho has persistently issued derogatory statements directed towards the Turkish people.”
The statement continued, “Today, his discourse has escalated beyond merely immoral comments into unequivocally inhumane rhetoric.”
Galatasaray declared their intention to take legal action, stating, “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.”
They also called on Fenerbahçe to respond appropriately, saying, “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.”
Mourinho has been vocal about his dissatisfaction with the officiating in Turkey this season. In January, he described the environment around referees in the Süper Lig as “toxic.”
- Galatasaray plans to report Mourinho to FIFA and UEFA.
- Mourinho praised the non-Turkish referee, sparking controversy.
- Galatasaray accuses Mourinho of making racist statements.
- Mourinho has criticized Turkish refereeing as “toxic.”
The football world now waits to see how this situation will unfold, with potential repercussions for Mourinho, Fenerbahçe, and the Turkish Süper Lig as a whole. The tension between these two clubs, already fierce, has reached new heights with this latest incident.
Originally Written by: ESPN
