The Fenerbahçe coach has been reported to the Disciplinary Committee for unsportsmanlike conduct and controversial statements

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José Mourinho in the eye of the storm: possible sanction and accusations of racism after the Turkish derby

Fenerbahçe coach José Mourinho is once again in the football limelight, this time for non-sporting reasons. The Turkish Football Federation (TFF) announced that it has referred the Portuguese coach to the Disciplinary Committee following the controversial derby against Galatasaray, which ended in a goalless draw on Monday.

According to the TFF statement, Mourinho has been charged for his ‘unsportsmanlike conduct’ during the match and for his ‘insulting comments’ in the post-match press conference. If found guilty, the Fenerbahçe coach could face a sanction ranging from a financial fine to a six-month suspension, which would prevent him from managing his team in a crucial part of the season.

The Disciplinary Committee has also opened proceedings against Galatasaray coach Okan Buruk, as well as several members of the coaching staffs of both teams, who were involved in incidents in the dugout area during the derby.

Accusations of racism and Galatasaray's response

Beyond the disciplinary proceedings, Galatasaray have decided to go further and announced that they will take legal action against Mourinho for what they consider to be racist statements.

‘We formally declare our intention to initiate criminal proceedings for Jose Mourinho's racist statements and will file official complaints with UEFA and FIFA,’ the club said in a statement on X (formerly Twitter).

Galatasaray's outrage stems from Mourinho's post-match comments, in which he described the attitude of the opposition bench to a refereeing decision: ‘Everyone on the opposition bench was jumping around like monkeys’.

Fenerbahçe vice-president Acun Ilicali called Galatasaray's complaint absurd and defended his coach.