February 28 (THEWILL) – Jose Mourinho has been handed a four-match suspension and fined approximately €42,000 by the Turkish Football Federation following controversial remarks made after the Istanbul derby between Fenerbahce and Galatasaray.
The 62-year-old Fenerbahce manager described the opposition bench as “jumping like monkeys” in his post-match comments after Monday’s goalless draw.
He also criticised Turkish officiating, telling the Slovenian referee Slavko Vincic that his presence ensured “a great match” while suggesting the game would have been “a disaster” had the Turkish fourth official been in charge.
The TFF disciplinary council determined that Mourinho’s statements were “contrary to sporting ethics.”
The punishment includes two matches for his criticism of the fourth official and an additional two matches for his comments directed at the Galatasaray bench. Fenerbahce, currently trailing league leaders Galatasaray by six points, maintain that Mourinho’s remarks were taken out of context.
Galatasaray manager Okan Buruk did not escape disciplinary action either.
He received a one-match ban for his own post-match commentary, during which he criticised referee Vincic and referred to Mourinho as “the Crying One,” a play on the Portuguese manager’s famous “Special One” moniker.
The derby match, which ended 0-0, has intensified the rivalry between the two Istanbul giants, with Galatasaray maintaining their six-point advantage at the top of the Turkish Süper Lig table as the 2024/2025 season progresses.
Jude Obafemi is a versatile senior Correspondent at THEWILL Newspapers, excelling in sourcing, researching, and delivering sports news stories for both print and digital publications.
