Jose Mourinho pulls rival manager's nose as police intervene in chaotic Istanbul derby finale

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Callum Vurley

By Callum Vurley


Published: 02/04/2025

- 22:05

Updated: 02/04/2025

- 22:09

The Istanbul derby ended in wild scenes as three red cards were handed out

Jose Mourinho was involved in a bizarre and controversial incident during the Istanbul derby on Wednesday night, grabbing Galatasaray manager Okan Buruk's nose after Fenerbahce's 2-1 defeat in the Turkish Cup quarter-finals.

The Portuguese coach's actions caused Buruk to fall to the ground in what quickly became a chaotic end to an already tense match.


The incident occurred following the final whistle of the fiercely contested derby between the Turkish rivals.

Fenerbahce suffered a 2-1 defeat to their arch rivals, with Victor Osimhen scoring twice for Galatasaray.

Jose Mourinho

Jose Mourinho was seen pulling Okan Buruk's nose

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The visitors had built up their 2-1 lead in the first half, which ultimately proved enough to eliminate Mourinho's side from the competition.

The match was part of the fiercest rivalry in Turkish football, with tensions running high throughout the encounter.

Galatasaray's victory secured their progression to the next round of the Turkish Cup, leaving Fenerbahce to reflect on a disappointing exit.

The match descended into chaos in stoppage time when a mass brawl erupted involving players from both teams.

The game had to be paused as the fracas escalated, with both benches joining the melee.

Police officers were eventually called in to restore order on the pitch.

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Three red cards were issued in the second minute of stoppage time - Fenerbahce's Mert Hakan Yandas was sent off alongside Galatasaray substitutes Kerem Demirbay and Baris Alper Yilmaz.

The shoving match between both sets of players highlighted the intense rivalry between the Istanbul clubs.

The tension continued after the final whistle when cameras caught Mourinho approaching the Galatasaray manager.

The former Chelsea and Manchester United boss grabbed Buruk's nose in a bizarre confrontation.

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Fenerbahce Galatasaray

Fenerbahce's match against Galatasaray ended in chaos

Reuters

Surprised by the action, Buruk fell to the ground clutching his face but quickly got up to confront Mourinho.

Galatasaray goalkeeper Fernando Muslera immediately stormed over to confront the Portuguese coach.

Members of Buruk's team intervened to prevent the situation from escalating further, holding back the Galatasaray manager.

Security personnel also rushed to the scene to separate the two managers.

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Jose Mourinho

Jose Mourinho could face retrospective action for his behaviour

Reuters

While Mourinho escaped immediate punishment during the incident, he could face retrospective action for his behaviour.

The Fenerbahce manager was not among the four individuals shown red cards in the aftermath of the confrontation.

However, according to reports, he may be hit with a retrospective ban following the clash, which quickly went viral on social media.

The unusual nature of the nose-grabbing incident has drawn significant attention, adding another controversial chapter to Mourinho's storied career.