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Galatasaray to file legal action against Mourinho over alleged racist remarks

Tuesday 25 February 2025 - 17:00

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Galatasaray announced on Tuesday its intention to pursue legal action against José Mourinho, the head coach of Fenerbahçe, accusing him of making “racist remarks” after the 0-0 draw between the two Istanbul rivals on Monday night. Fenerbahçe has denied the allegations.

In a statement, Galatasaray officially declared its plan to press charges regarding the alleged racist comments made by Mourinho, also announcing that they would file formal complaints with UEFA and FIFA. However, the club did not specify the exact statements in question.

Speaking at a press conference following the match, the 62-year-old Portuguese coach remarked that "the Galatasaray bench jumped around like monkeys" in reaction to a referee’s decision.

On Tuesday, Fenerbahçe responded by claiming that Mourinho’s words were “completely taken out of context and deliberately distorted.”

“As any reasonable person can see and understand, these words, used by José Mourinho to describe the excessive reaction of the opposing team's technical staff, in no way constitute racist remarks,” the Istanbul club stated in a release.

Mourinho, whose team is six points behind league leaders Galatasaray, also “thanked the referee” of the match, Slovenian Slavko Vincic, for being more impartial than Turkish referees.

The Turkish Football Federation had appointed a foreign referee—a first in more than 50 years—to officiate this heated derby, with Fenerbahçe accusing Turkish officials of favoring Galatasaray.

Since arriving in Turkey, José Mourinho has repeatedly made disparaging remarks about the Turkish people, Galatasaray stated, arguing that “his rhetoric has gone from immoral comments to inhumane language.”