Fenerbahce has strongly denied allegations of racism against their manager, Jose Mourinho, calling Galatasaray’s claims ‘pathetic slander’.
The controversy erupted following Monday’s goalless draw between the two Turkish football giants, during which Mourinho made remarks about the Galatasaray bench “jumping like monkeys” and suggested that the match benefited from having a non-Turkish referee, Slovenian Slavko Vincic.
In response, Galatasaray announced their intention to pursue legal action, stating they would file official complaints with UEFA and FIFA over what they labeled as “racist statements” made by Mourinho.
Fenerbahce countered with a firm statement on Tuesday, arguing that Mourinho’s words had been twisted and misrepresented.
“A statement made by Jose Mourinho after the match was taken completely out of context and deliberately distorted,” the club asserted.
“As every common sense person can see and understand, these expressions, used by Jose Mourinho to describe the extreme reaction of the opposing team’s technical staff to the referee’s decisions during the match, can in no way be associated with racism.
“Trying to portray this discourse as racist is a completely malevolent approach. We would like to inform the public that we will exercise our legal rights regarding this pathetic slander that aims to take the competition out of the field, change the agenda and manipulate it.”
Fenerbahce vice-president, Acun Ilicali, also came to Mourinho’s defense, telling Sky Sports News, “Jose Mourinho is just describing the emotion of the bench by using the word monkey, that’s all.
“When I say you are running like a rabbit, I don’t say that you are a rabbit. So when I say you are jumping like a monkey, it doesn’t mean you are a monkey.
“You can clearly understand that Jose Mourinho had no intention to be racist, in the words or behind the words or around the words.
“As a club, I can clearly say that we are behind our coach, we are supporting him 100 per cent.”
Meanwhile, Galatasaray doubled down on their accusations, releasing a statement accompanied by the phrase “Say No to Racism.”
The club accused Mourinho of making repeated derogatory remarks about Turkish football since his arrival in the league.
“Since the commencement of his managerial duties in Turkey, Fenerbahce manager Jose Mourinho has persistently issued derogatory statements directed towards the Turkish people.
“We formally declare our intention to initiate criminal proceedings concerning the racist statements made by Jose Mourinho, and shall accordingly submit official complaints to UEFA and FIFA.
“Furthermore, we shall diligently observe the stance adopted by Fenerbahce, an institution professing to uphold ‘exemplary moral values’ in response to the reprehensible conduct exhibited by their manager.”
This is not the first time Mourinho has found himself in hot water since joining Fenerbahce last summer.
Earlier this season, he received a one-match ban and a fine of nearly £15,000 following a fiery post-match interview after his side’s 3-2 victory over Trabzonspor.
The Portuguese coach was penalized for “unsportsmanlike behaviour towards opposing team fans” and for “diminishing the value of Turkish football and…discrediting the impartiality of the referees and other match officials.”
