Jose Mourinho faces legal action after being accused of making “racist comments” following Monday’s Istanbul derby between his Fenerbahce side and fierce rivals Galatasaray.
A former Champions League final referee – Slovenian Slavko Vincic – was enlisted to officiate the match after both clubs demanded a foreign official for the ever-controversial derby, which ended 0-0.
But Mourinho made a series of comments aimed at the Turkish fourth official and the opposition bench which appear to form the basis for Galatasaray’s accusations.
The former Chelsea, Manchester United and Real Madrid boss has been highly critical of domestic refereeing since taking over the Super Lig side in June 2024.
“I went to the referees’ dressing room after the game. Of course, the fourth official was there, a Turkish referee,” Mourinho said post-match.
“I told him [Vincic], ‘Thank you to come here because you come for a big match and you are responsible for a big match.
“And I turned myself to the fourth official and I [said] ‘this match, if you are the referee, this match would be a disaster.’
“And when I say him, I say the general tendency.”
Mourinho also said the Galatasaray coaches and substitutes were “jumping around like monkeys” after an early challenge by Fenerbahce defender Yusuf Akcicek.
“I have also to thank the referee because with a Turkish referee after the big dive in the first minute, their bench jumping like monkeys on the top of the kid, with a Turkish referee you would have a yellow card after one minute and after five minutes I would have to change him,” he added.
Galatasaray labelled his comments “unequivocally inhumane” and pledged to launch criminal proceedings. Mourinho has not publicly commented on the accusations.
In a statement accompanied by a “#SayNoToRacism” graphic, the league leaders said: “Since the commencement of his managerial duties in Turkey, Fenerbahce manager Jose Mourinho has persistently issued derogatory statements directed towards the Turkish people.
Club Statement from Galatasaray SK
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
— Galatasaray EN (@Galatasaray) February 24, 2025
“Today, his discourse has escalated beyond merely immoral comments into unequivocally inhumane rhetoric. 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.
“Furthermore, we shall diligently observe the stance adopted by Fenerbahce—an institution professing to uphold ‘exemplary moral values’—in response to the reprehensible conduct exhibited by their manager.”
Fenerbahce remain second in the Super Lig, six points behind leaders Galatasaray after the derby draw, and 12 points above Samsunspor in third.
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