Turkish giants Fenerbahce have announced plans to take legal action against their arch-rivals Galatasaray after accusations of racism were leveled against their manager, José Mourinho.
The controversy erupted following a heated goalless draw between the two clubs on Monday, February 24.
In a post-match statement, Galatasaray accused Mourinho of making racially insensitive remarks, citing his comments about the opposition bench “jumping like monkeys” after a challenge.
Reacting to the claims, Galatasaray lodged criminal proceedings and filed complaints with UEFA and FIFA, stating that Mourinho’s remarks were beyond immoral and inhumane.
However, Fenerbahce Vice President Acun Ilicali has strongly defended Mourinho, dismissing the accusations as an attempt to manipulate his words.
“We are more than 110 per cent sure his aim was not to be racist,” Ilicali told Mail Sport.
He argued that Mourinho’s analogy was taken out of context, emphasizing that using animals in descriptions is common in everyday language.
“It’s like saying, ‘You are running like a rabbit’ or ‘You are bad like a snake’—it’s just an exaggerated way of describing movement,” he explained
Ilicali also confirmed that Fenerbahce has consulted its legal team and will take Galatasaray to court over what he described as a “disgusting accusation.”
Meanwhile, footage of Galatasaray’s head coach Okan Buruk visibly jumping on the sidelines has surfaced, adding another layer to the debate.