Galatasaray has decided to take legal action against Fenerbahce's head coach José Mourinho after accusing him of making "racist statements" following the teams’ recent goalless draw. The club's statement did not specify the exact statements considered racist. During a post-match press conference, Mourinho compared the home team's bench to "monkeys" and voiced his continued disapproval of Turkish refereeing, asserting that the match would have been a "disaster" had a local referee been officiating.
This match, which was conducted by Slovenian referee Slavko Vincic at the request of both clubs, has fueled tensions between the Istanbul clubs. In light of the accusations, Galatasaray declared their intention to begin criminal proceedings while also planning to file "official complaints" with UEFA and FIFA regarding Mourinho's conduct.
Mourinho, who has led prominent clubs like Chelsea and Manchester United, has yet to respond publicly to the allegations. His remarks included thanking the referee after what he termed a "dive" by a Fenerbahce player, suggesting that the Turkish referees would have penalized their young defender Yusuf Akcicek unjustly.
In a formal statement, Galatasaray remarked on Mourinho's history of derogatory comments since his appointment in Turkey, emphasizing that his remarks have evolved into "unequivocally inhumane rhetoric." They also mentioned that they would closely monitor how Fenerbahce, which claims to endorse "exemplary moral values," reacts to Mourinho's behavior.
Mourinho, now 62, has previously experienced disciplinary action this season regarding his criticisms of officiating standards in Turkey, and before the controversial match, he expressed support for having foreign referees to improve the credibility of Turkish football. BBC Sport has reached out to Fenerbahce for comments pertaining to the escalating situation.
