Jose Mourinho is facing ‘criminal charges’ as Galatasaray reacts to ‘racist remarks’ following the draw in the Turkish Super Lig.

In a dramatic turn of events following the latest Turkish Super Lig derby, Galatasaray has announced their intention to lodge an official complaint with UEFA and FIFA regarding alleged “racist statements” made by Fenerbahce head coach Jose Mourinho. The match, which ended in a goalless stalemate, has been overshadowed by the Portuguese manager’s controversial remarks in the aftermath.

Mourinho’s comments, which included a disparaging reference to Galatasaray staff “jumping like monkeys” while appealing for decisions, have sparked outrage. The build-up to the match was already fraught with tension, as the former Manchester United and Chelsea boss had been vocal in his criticism of the standard of Turkish refereeing.

Despite the controversy, Mourinho did commend the appointment of Slovenian referee Slavko Vincic, who officiated last season’s UEFA Champions League final. However, he did not shy away from expressing his concerns about the officiating, suggesting that had a Turkish referee been in charge, the outcome could have been disastrous for his team.

In his post-match press conference, Mourinho recounted an incident from the first minute of the game, stating, “We thank the referee because after the big dive in the first minute and their bench is jumping like monkeys on top of the kid, with a Turkish referee, the kid would have a yellow card after one minute.” He continued to praise Vincic for his handling of the match, which saw seven yellow cards issued and a temporary halt due to flares being thrown from the stands.

Mourinho’s comments did not sit well with Galatasaray, who have now threatened legal action against him. The club released a statement condemning Mourinho’s remarks, asserting that his rhetoric has escalated from derogatory to “unequivocally inhumane.” They expressed their intention to pursue criminal proceedings and submit formal complaints to both UEFA and FIFA.

The statement further highlighted Galatasaray’s expectation that Fenerbahce, an institution that claims to uphold “exemplary moral values,” should take a firm stance against the conduct of their manager. As the dust settles on this heated derby, the fallout from Mourinho’s comments is likely to reverberate through Turkish football, raising questions about the responsibilities of managers and the standards of conduct expected in the sport.