Jose Mourinho has found himself at the centre of a racism storm following controversial comments made after Monday night's heated Istanbul derby between Fenerbahce and Galatasaray.
The former Chelsea and Manchester United manager sparked outrage when he referred to the opposition bench "jumping like monkeys" during his post-match comments.
Galatasaray have responded with a damning statement, announcing their intention to file formal complaints with both UEFA and FIFA over what they described as "unequivocally inhumane rhetoric."
The Istanbul derby, one of football's fiercest rivalries, ended in a goalless draw amid scenes of chaos.
Jose Mourinho has found himself at the centre of a racism storm following controversial comments made after Monday night's heated Istanbul derby between Fenerbahce and Galatasaray
REUTERS
The match saw unprecedented security measures, with a reported 30,000 police officers deployed for the fixture.
Play had to be interrupted in the 52nd minute after flares were thrown in the stands, despite strict security protocols.
The referee, Slavko Vincic, handed out seven yellow cards during the tense encounter.
A hostile atmosphere was evident from the start, with players refusing to shake hands before kick-off.
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📌 Club Statement from Galatasaray SK
— Galatasaray EN (@Galatasaray) February 24, 2025
Since the commencement of his managerial duties in Türkiye, Fenerbahçe manager Jose Mourinho has persistently issued derogatory statements directed towards the Turkish people. Today, his discourse has escalated beyond merely immoral comments… pic.twitter.com/NRLsk9F4kT
The result maintained Galatasaray's six-point lead at the top of the Turkish Super League as they look to win the title.
In his post-match comments, Mourinho initially praised referee Vincic's performance, suggesting the match would have been different with a Turkish official.
"I must also thank the referee. He had enough honesty to manage this match well," said the Fenerbahce manager.
"They tried to get a yellow card for our 18-year-old player from the first minute, but the referee managed the game well."
The Portuguese coach then made the controversial remark: "Everyone on the opponent's bench was jumping like monkeys. If it were a Turkish referee, they would have immediately given the card, and I would have had to take the player off in a minute."
Galatasaray issued a strongly-worded statement in response, accompanied by a #SayNoToRacism tag.
The club accused Mourinho of "persistently" making "derogatory statements directed towards the Turkish people" since starting his role in Turkey.
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"Today, his discourse has escalated beyond merely immoral comments into unequivocally inhumane rhetoric," the statement read.
The Turkish champions announced they would "initiate criminal proceedings" regarding Mourinho's statements.
They also said they would be watching Fenerbahce's response, noting the club's professed "exemplary moral values."
Jose Mourinho is yet to respond to the racism allegations
REUTERS
Mourinho has not yet issued any response to the racism allegations levelled against him.
The controversy adds to growing tensions in Turkish football, where Mourinho has regularly criticised referees since taking charge at Fenerbahce.
Before the match, the Portuguese manager had welcomed the Turkish Football Federation's decision to appoint a foreign referee for the derby.
