FENERBAHCE ISSUE STATEMENT IN RESPONSE TO JOSE MOURINHO 'RACIST COMMENTS'

Jose Mourinho has been accused of making ‘racist statements’ by Galatasaray (Picture: Getty)

Fenerbahce have issued a strong statement in response to accusations that Jose Mourinho made ‘racist statements’ following Monday’s 0-0 draw against Galatasaray.

Galatasaray said the club planned to launch criminal proceedings against the former Chelsea and Manchester United manager after it was claimed he made ‘derogatory statements’ about Turkish people.

The Turkish league leaders also confirmed their intention to submit complaints to governing bodies UEFA and FIFA after the comments made by Mourinho in the aftermath of last night’s stalemate.

Fenerbahce, who Mourinho joined in the summer, have come out fighting and issues a passionate defence of the 62-year-old.

A statement read: ‘A statement made by our Technical Director Jose Mourinho after the match was completely taken out of context and an attempt was made to deliberately distort it.

‘As every sensible person can see and understand; these statements used by Jose Mourinho to describe the excessive reaction of the opposing team’s technical staff to the referee decisions during the match can in no way be associated with racism.

‘Trying to portray this statement as racist is a completely malicious approach. We would like to inform the public that we will use our legal rights regarding this pathetic slander that was made in order to take the competition off the field, change the agenda and manipulate it.’

Jose Mourinho’s side drew 0-0 with Galatasaray (Picture: Getty)

Mourinho had made comments about the Galatasaray bench ‘jumping like monkeys’ after an early challenge and the match being better because it was not officiated by a Turkish referee. Slovenian Slavko Vincic refereed the contest.

A statement from Galatasaray said Mourinho ‘has persistently issued derogatory statements directed towards the Turkish people’ since taking over at Fenerbahce in June 2024.

‘Today, his discourse has escalated beyond merely immoral comments into unequivocally inhumane rhetoric,’ the statement said.

‘We hereby formally declare our intention to initiate criminal proceedings concerning the racist statements made by Jose Mourinho, and shall accordingly submit official complaints to UEFA and FIFA.’

Describing Mourinho’s conduct as ‘reprehensible’, it said rivals Fenerbahce professed ‘to uphold ‘exemplary moral values”.

The statement was posted on the club website under the headline: ‘Say no to racism.’

Mourinho was defended by Fenerbahce vice-president Acun Ilicali, who told Sky Sports News: ‘Jose Mourinho is just describing the emotion of the bench by using the word monkey, that’s all.

‘When I say you are running like a rabbit, I don’t say that you are a rabbit. So when I say you are jumping like a monkey, it doesn’t mean you are a monkey.

‘You can clearly understand that Jose Mourinho had no intention to be racist, in the words or behind the words or around the words. That’s a very clear situation that is trying to be manipulated by Galatasaray’s board, and we are used to it in Turkey.

- James Goldman

JOSE MOURINHO DEMANDS TV EXPERTS SOLVE FENERBAHCE LB PROBLEM

Fenerbahce coach Jose Mourinho has appealed to the "experts" in the Turkish media to help him solve his left-back dilemma for their next Europa League game against Olympique Lyon.

The Turkish outfit is without injured left-back Jayden Oosterwolde and Mert Müldür, who is suspended following his sending off in Wednesday's Europa League 2-0 home defeat to Athletic Club.

"If you look at our next [Europa League] match against Olympique Lyon, Müldür is suspended, who is going to play left-back?" Mourinho said. "If anyone of you can help me, if any one of the experts of TV can help me. Who is going to play left-back?"

Fenerbahce, who have won two and lost two of their six Europa League games, are hoping to win the Super Lig title this season for the first time since 2014.

Saturday's 1-0 league loss at Besiktas, which ended a five-game winning run, left them second in the standings, six points adrift of Galatasaray.

Mourinho is clearly frustrated with selection dilemmas.

"Sometimes you [media] look at things without knowing the reality of the things well," he said.

"I don't know because unfortunately I can only say a few words of Turkish, if we as a club give you the right information to understand situations. I would love to have all of my players available. You see how difficult it is for us. We didn't have a single midfielder on the bench [against Athletic]."

Jose Mourinho has appealed to the Turkish media to solve Fenerbache's left-back dilemma. Photo by Ahmad Mora - UEFA/UEFA via Getty Images

Asked about signing reinforcements in the upcoming transfer window, Mourinho said: "I'm happy with my players. I don't throw my players under the bus. Don't expect me to come here and to tell you that I would like to have better players.

"I would like to have Jayden Oosterwolde available because for us it's really hard [without him]. But don't worry, we are going to qualify [in the Europa League]. We have two games left to get three points, and we'll get that. We are going to be stronger in the second half of the season."

Mourinho, meanwhile, clarified the comments he made earlier this week about wanting to see Athletic star Nico Williams play for Real Madrid one day.

"I love Nico Williams and when I said that I would like him to wear the Madrid jersey I didn't remember that Real Madrid has Vinícius [Júnior]," he said on Wednesday.

"I said it because I'm a Blanco [Madrid] fan and as a Blanco, you always think that way. Real Madrid has Vinícius, who is incredible, but I love this kid [Nico] who has incredible quality. He's a player that I love."

- Adriana Garcia