Fenerbahce manager Jose Mourinho has filed a lawsuit against Galatasaray, seeking 1,907,000 Turkish Lira (approximately £41,000) in damages for what he alleges is an “attack on [his] personal rights.” The lawsuit follows Galatasaray’s accusation that Mourinho made racist statements after Monday’s 0-0 draw in the Istanbul derby. The lawsuit amount is symbolic of the founding year of Fenerbahce Sports Club, 1907.
The legal action, filed through Fenerbahce’s lawyers, is a direct response to Galatasaray’s public accusations and their stated intention to pursue criminal proceedings and file complaints with UEFA and FIFA. Fenerbahce had previously issued a statement defending Mourinho, claiming his comments were “completely taken out of context.”
The controversy stems from Mourinho’s post-match press conference, where he criticized the Galatasaray bench’s reaction to an early foul, stating they were “jumping like monkeys.” He also reiterated his criticism of Turkish referees, suggesting a Turkish official would have been a “disaster” for the match. The game was officiated by Slovenian referee Slavko Vincic, following a request from both clubs for a foreign referee.
On Thursday, the Turkish Football Federation (TFF) banned Mourinho for four matches and fined him a total of £35,194 for two separate disciplinary breaches: “derogatory and offensive statements towards the Turkish referee” and for accusing “Turkish football of chaos and disorder”. The TFF also cited his comments about the Galatasaray bench, stating they were “contrary to the ethics of sports… contained expressions that could encourage violence and disorder… were divisive and separatist in society and could cause fan incidents”.
Mourinho’s lawsuit represents a significant escalation in the dispute between the two rival clubs and highlights the ongoing tensions surrounding officiating and accusations of bias in Turkish football.
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