Fenerbahce manager Jose Mourinho has been handed a four-game suspension following a racism controversy with rivals Galatasaray.
The former coach of Chelsea, Manchester United, and Tottenham was accused by Galatasaray of making racist comments after their Istanbul derby match on Monday, which ended in a 0-0 draw.
After the goalless match, Mourinho stated in a press conference that Galatasaray’s bench was trying to get one of his players booked early in the game.
He said that “everyone on the opposing bench was jumping around like monkeys.”
Galatasaray responded quickly, accusing the 62-year-old Portuguese manager of “regularly using derogatory words towards the Turkish people” since he started managing in Istanbul.
Fenerbahce defended Mourinho, calling Galatasaray’s accusations “pathetic slander.”
However, the Turkish Football Federation has now announced Mourinho’s four-match ban due to his actions after the derby.
According to the Federation’s statement, Mourinho’s comments at the post-match press conference were seen as encouraging violence and disorder in sports, being divisive in society, and potentially causing fan incidents.
Referee Slavko Vincic from Slovenia was specifically chosen to officiate the intense derby after Mourinho had previously suggested that Turkish referees were biased towards Galatasaray.
Mourinho also faced criticism for allegedly entering the referees’ changing room after the match.
In addition to the comments made in the press conference, Mourinho received a second charge for allegedly using “derogatory and offensive statements towards the Turkish fourth official” at the end of the game.
The statement from the Federation also mentioned that Mourinho made “insulting and offensive statements towards both the Turkish football community and all Turkish referees.”
Mourinho has been given a two-match ban for each charge, and he has also been fined a total of £35,000.
He will be absent from Fenerbahce’s next four league games against Antalyaspor, Samsunspor, Bodrum, and Trabzonspor.
However, Mourinho will be available to coach Fenerbahce in their Europa League round of 16 matches against Rangers next month.
Mourinho became the manager of the Turkish club in June. Currently, Fenerbahce is second in the Super Lig, trailing champions Galatasaray by six points.
Following the racism accusations, several former players, including Didier Drogba, defended Mourinho.
Drogba, a Chelsea legend who played for Galatasaray from 2012 to 2014 and is highly respected by their fans, supported his former manager. Drogba stated to Galatasaray, “You know how proud I was to wear the yellow and red jersey and my love for the most decorated club in Turkey!”
He added, “We all know how passionate and heated rivalries can be, and I’ve been lucky enough to experience it.”
Drogba continued, “I’ve seen the recent comments about Jose Mourinho. Trust me when I tell you I have known Jose for years and he is not a racist, and history (past and recent) proves it.”
He concluded, “Let’s focus on our games, support our brilliant lions, and let’s win the league to get closer to our 5 stars. How can my “Dad” be a racist? Come on guys.”
Marcus Bellamy