Fenerbahçe’s head coach, José Mourinho, has been handed a three-match ban and fined approximately £5,955 (₺292,500) by the Turkish Football Federation (TFF) following a controversial incident during the Turkish Cup quarter-final against Galatasaray.
The altercation occurred after Fenerbahçe’s 2-1 home defeat, when a scuffle involving players escalated post-match.
Mourinho was seen grabbing the nose of Galatasaray coach Okan Buruk, who reacted by dramatically falling to the ground.
As a result, Mourinho is barred from entering the dressing room and the bench for Fenerbahçe’s next three official matches against Trabzonspor, Sivasspor, and Kayserispor.
The TFF’s decision has sparked controversy, as many believe the sanction is lenient compared to the severity of the incident.
The Turkish Football Federation’s regulations stipulate a ban of between five and ten matches for such aggressive actions, leading to accusations of favoritism towards Fenerbahçe, the only club supporting the current TFF administration.
Clubs like Trabzonspor, Galatasaray, Beşiktaş, and Başakşehir have expressed their discontent, citing unequal treatment and a lack of transparency in the federation’s decisions.
Mourinho’s tenure in Turkey has been marked by a series of disciplinary issues.
In November 2024, he received a one-match ban and a fine of about £15,000 for his actions and comments following a dramatic win over Trabzonspor.
He sprinted onto the pitch and attempted a knee slide after a stoppage-time goal but later launched into an angry tirade condemning refereeing standards in Turkey, questioning the impartiality of match officials.
In February 2025, Mourinho faced a four-match suspension and a $44,000 fine after Galatasaray accused him of making racist remarks.
He allegedly referred to the Galatasaray bench as “jumping like monkeys” following an early challenge and suggested that Slovenian referee Slavko Vincic was preferable to Turkish officials.
The TFF imposed sanctions for his “derogatory and offensive statements” towards Turkish football and referees.
The recent nose-grabbing incident has further strained relations between Fenerbahçe and Galatasaray, intensifying the rivalry and raising questions about the consistency and transparency of disciplinary actions within Turkish football.
