Fenerbahçe manager Jose Mourinho has been suspended for four matches and fined over €40,000 by the Turkish Football Federation (TFF) following remarks he made after the recent goalless Istanbul derby against Galatasaray.
Mourinho’s post-match comments included a reference to the reactions of Galatasaray’s bench during a tense moment, describing them as “jumping like monkeys.”
This statement was widely perceived as offensive.
He also questioned the officiating, implying that the game might have been more problematic if a Turkish referee had been in charge instead of Slovenian official Slavko Vinčić.
In response, Galatasaray issued a statement condemning Mourinho’s words as racially insensitive and hinted at potential legal action.
Meanwhile, Fenerbahçe defended their coach, arguing that his remarks were misinterpreted and taken out of context.
On Thursday, February 27, the TFF’s disciplinary committee ruled that Mourinho’s statements violated sporting ethics, imposing a two-match suspension for his criticism of the fourth official and another two matches for his comments about the Galatasaray bench.
With Fenerbahçe currently trailing league leaders Galatasaray by six points, Mourinho’s suspension presents an additional challenge for the club as they strive to close the gap in the title race.