Galatasaray Takes Legal Action Against Mourinho for Alleged Racist Remarks

Sat Jan 10 2026 22:21:51 GMT+0200 (Eastern European Standard Time)

Galatasaray has announced plans to pursue criminal charges against Fenerbahce's manager Jose Mourinho, citing accusations of racism following a recent Istanbul derby.

Following a tense 0-0 draw on Monday, controversy erupted over remarks made by Mourinho during the post-match press conference, prompting Galatasaray to assert they would file formal complaints with UEFA and FIFA. The club's statement accused Mourinho of consistently making derogatory comments about Turkish people since his arrival in Turkey. The former Chelsea manager's remarks about the opposing bench's behavior and the quality of Turkish referees have sparked outrage, with Galatasaray calling for intervention from football authorities and expressing concern over Fenerbahce's response to Mourinho's alleged conduct. As of now, Fenerbahce has not officially commented on the accusations.

Galatasaray stated: "Since the commencement of his managerial duties in Turkey, Fenerbahce manager Jose Mourinho has persistently issued derogatory statements directed towards the Turkish people. Today, his discourse has escalated beyond merely immoral comments into unequivocally inhumane rhetoric."

Mourinho, 62, who took charge at Fenerbahce last summer, faces scrutiny after already being banned and fined earlier this season for previous criticisms of Turkish referees. While Mourinho has praised the decision to appoint foreign officials for key matches, he also commented on the environment in Turkish football as "toxic." The response from Fenerbahce regarding these accusations remains to be seen as the situation continues to develop.