Turkish side Galatasaray accuse Fenerbahce coach Jose Mourinho of making racist statements

By Fatih Erel

ISTANBUL (AA) - Istanbul football club Galatasaray has vowed to take Jose Mourinho, the head coach of its cross-town rival Fenerbahce, to court over alleged racist statements he made after the teams’ 0-0 draw on Monday.

At a post-game press conference, Mourinho – a former Portuguese player – said the home team's bench was "jumping like monkeys" and that it would have been a "disaster" if a Turkish referee had officiated the game.

The match was refereed by Slovenian Slavko Vincic after both clubs requested a foreign official take charge.

Galatasaray said in a statement after Mourinho's press conference: "Since the commencement of his managerial duties in Turkiye, Fenerbahce manager Jose Mourinho has persistently issued derogatory statements directed towards the Turkish people. Today, his rhetoric has escalated beyond merely immoral comments into unequivocally inhumane rhetoric.”

It said it would initiate criminal proceedings over his “racist statements” and submit official complaints to both UEFA and FIFA, the European and international football authorities, respectively.

But Fenerbahce defended their coach, saying: "These statements made by Jose Mourinho to describe the excessive reaction of the opposing team's technical staff to the referee decisions during the match cannot be associated with racism.”

Mourinho took over coaching duties at Fenerbahce last June.