The score was held goalless between Galatasaray and Fenerbahce at RAMS Park recently, however, things took a different direction after the match when Galatasaray alleged that Fenerbahce head coach Jose Mourinho made racist statements. The Turkish club alleged that Mourinho has made demeaning comments about the Turkish people since arriving in Turkey, which they said had risen to “inhumane rhetoric.”
Galatasaray called the comments “vulgar” and said they would initiate criminal proceedings against Mourinho and file complaints with European football governing bodies UEFA and FIFA. They condemned Fenerbahce for supporting what they believed was outrageous conduct on its manager’s part.
Mourinho was in hot water after making controversial comments, including saying the Galatasaray bench jumped “like monkeys” and criticizing Turkish officials. Fenerbahce hit back immediately, saying Mourinho’s remarks were misquoted and his comments maliciously distorted. Mourinho was describing something he had witnessed during the game — namely, the over-the-top antics of the opposition team’s technical area — and had had no intention of making a racist comment, they said.
The match, which was billed as potentially explosive, had Slovenian ref Slavko Vincic in charge, making him the first foreign official to oversee a Turkish Super Lig encounter in 55 years. Although Fenerbahce clearly played better they only had three shots on goal. Mourinho and Okan Buruk, Galatasaray’s coach, were booked during the match, which was briefly stopped when a flare was thrown from the away end into Galatasaray seating.
The drama continued after the match with Buruk accusing the Portuguese Mourinho of humiliating Turkish officials and condemning his conduct. Mourinho, for his part, praised Vincic’s officiating and lamented the quality of Turkish referees. He repeated his complaint about the league’s officiating, saying if the Turkish referees had the ambition of Vincic’s level, the better team would be the champion.
The rivalry between the two Istanbul giants is made worse by Mourinho’s remarks and accusations. UEFA and FIFA calls to this allegation will be very critical for the upcoming years and Fenerbahce’s steps about the behaviour of their coach will be focal to follow.
