Galatasaray to report Jose Mourinho for “racist statements”
Galatasaray said they will report Fenerbahce manager Jose Mourinho to FIFA and UEFA over the coach’s “racist statements.”
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What actually happened?
The development comes after the two Turkish Super Lig clubs played to a 0-0 draw in Istanbul on Sunday.
Mourinho welcomed the appointment of a non-Turkish referee, with Slovenian Slavko Vincic selected to officiate.
After the match, Mourinho praised the Slovenian referee, highlighting the fact he was not from Turkey.
“The performance of the referee was a top performance,” Mourinho told his postmatch 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.”
“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.”
“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.”
Mourinho was also asked about an incident early in the game involving his 19-year-old defender Yusuf Akcicek
“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.
“A Turkish referee would have [given Akcicek] a yellow card after one minute, and after five minutes I would have to change him.”
Galastaray to report Mourinho over “racist statements”
Meanwhile, the Turkish Super Lig leaders released a statement regarding Mourinho’s comments.
“Since the commencement of his managerial duties in Türkiye, Fenerbahçe manager Jose Mourinho has persistently issued derogatory statements directed towards the Turkish people,” it wrote.
“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 Fenerbahçe — an institution professing to uphold ‘exemplary moral values’ — in response to the reprehensible conduct exhibited by their manager.”
Mourinho has been critical of officiating in Turkey this season, describing the Super Lig’s refereeing environment as “toxic” in January.
