Fenerbahce have said their head coach Jose Mourinho has filed a moral compensation lawsuit against Galatasaray for 1,907,000 Turkish Liras (£41,467, $52,212) due to an “attack on his personal rights”.
Galatasaray accused Mourinho of making “racist statements” after Monday’s 0-0 draw between the two Istanbul rivals and said that the club intended to initiate criminal proceedings against him.
On Thursday, the 62-year-old was banned for four matches by the Turkish Football Federation (TFF) and fined a total of £35,218 after comments he made following the match about Galatasaray team members and words he used towards the fourth official.
Mourinho praised Slovenian referee Slavko Vincic, who was appointed by the TFF to officiate the Super Lig encounter.
The Fenerbahce head coach said after the match: “I have to thank the referee. After the big dive in the first minute and their (Galatasaray’s) bench jumping like monkeys on top of each other.
“If it was a Turkish referee, you would have a yellow card after one minute, and after five minutes, I would have to change him. Thankfully, it was a perfect experience for him.”
AÇIKLAMA
Fenerbahçe Spor Kulübü avukatları aracılığıyla Teknik Direktörümüz Jose Mourinho’nun kişilik haklarına yapılan saldırı sebebiyle Galatasaray Spor Kulübü’ne Jose Mourinho tarafından 1 milyon 907 bin Türk Lirası manevi tazminat davası açıldığını kamuoyuna duyururuz.… pic.twitter.com/EiTlKP6pje
— Fenerbahçe SK (@Fenerbahce) February 28, 2025
Galatasaray responded by saying Mourinho had “persistently issued derogatory statements directed towards the Turkish people” and that his post-match comments were “unequivocally inhumane rhetoric.”
Galatasaray, who also said they would issue complaints to FIFA and UEFA about the Portuguese head coach, added their “intention to initiate criminal proceedings concerning the racist statements made by Mourinho.”
Fenerbahce responded by saying Mourinho’s comments had been taken “completely out of context and deliberately distorted” and they are weighing up legal action of their own.
Galatasaray are six points clear of Fenerbahce at the top of the Super Lig.
(Dean Mouhtaropoulos/Getty Images)
