In the wake of an intense Istanbul derby on Monday, Galatasaray has expressed outrage at comments made by Fenerbahce's manager, Jose Mourinho, asserting they were "racist." The call for legal action comes following a 0-0 draw between the teams, where Mourinho criticized the performance of Turkish referees while making what Galatasaray described as inhumane remarks directed towards Turkish people. In addressing the media, Mourinho mentioned the Fenerbahce bench's behavior, comparing them to monkeys during a tense moment involving a young player, which has led to a strong backlash from Galatasaray.

"We will submit official complaints to UEFA and FIFA," a Galatasaray statement declared, noting Mourinho's history of derogatory comments since his arrival in Turkey. Fenerbahce, where Mourinho has been manager since last summer, has yet to respond to the allegations. The Portuguese coach, who has previously faced scrutiny for his remarks about refereeing standards in Turkey, welcomed the decision to have a foreign official officiate the derby, emphasizing the need for improved credibility in Turkish football.