Didier Drogba, the legendary Chelsea striker, has come to the defense of his former manager Jose Mourinho following accusations of racism from Turkish club Galatasaray. Drogba, who scored 197 goals for Chelsea across two stints and won four Premier League titles (two under Mourinho), expressed his support for the Portuguese coach in a strong statement on social media.
Drogba, who also played for Galatasaray during his career, emphasized his long-standing relationship with Mourinho, stating, “I’ve known Jose for years, and he is not a racist. History, both past and recent, proves this.” He urged fans to focus on supporting their teams and achieving success on the pitch rather than engaging in controversy.
The allegations stem from comments made by Mourinho, now managing Fenerbahce, after a heated 0-0 draw with Galatasaray in the Turkish Super Lig. Mourinho criticized Galatasaray’s bench for “jumping like monkeys” and suggested that the match would have been a disaster if officiated by a Turkish referee. While Mourinho did not explicitly mention race, Galatasaray accused him of making “racist statements” and announced plans to initiate criminal proceedings against him.
Galatasaray further claimed that Mourinho has consistently made derogatory remarks about Turkish people since joining Fenerbahce, escalating to what they described as “unequivocally inhumane rhetoric.” The club stated it would file official complaints with UEFA and FIFA.
Drogba, who has a deep connection with both Chelsea and Galatasaray, expressed his pride in having worn the Galatasaray jersey and acknowledged the intensity of football rivalries. However, he firmly rejected the notion that Mourinho could be racist, humorously questioning, “How can my ‘Dad’ be a racist? Come on, guys.”
The controversy has sparked widespread debate, with Mourinho’s history of provocative comments under scrutiny. Meanwhile, Drogba’s defense highlights the strong bond between the two, forged during their successful years at Chelsea.
As the situation unfolds, the focus remains on whether Galatasaray’s complaints will lead to formal action against Mourinho and how the football community will respond to the allegations.
*(With inputs from Reuters)*
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