The secret meaning behind Fenerbahce’s fee to Galatasaray following Jose Mourinho’s accusations
Jose Mourinho found himself at the center of controversy after Galatasaray leveled serious accusations following his comments in the post-match press conference of the Istanbul derby. In response to these allegations, Fenerbahce filed a lawsuit, attaching a fee that carries a deeper symbolic meaning.
Galatasaray accused Mourinho of making racist statements, prompting the club to announce that they would “initiate criminal proceedings concerning the racist remarks made by Jose Mourinho.” These claims were swiftly rejected by Mourinho and his club. In a statement, Fenerbahce called the accusations “pathetic slander,” and moved to defend their coach by filing a lawsuit.
“We announce to the public that a lawsuit for moral compensation amounting to 1,907,000 Turkish Liras has been filed by our Head Coach Jose Mourinho against Galatasaray Sports Club, due to the attack on his personal rights, through Fenerbahce Sports Club’s lawyers,” the statement read.
While Fenerbahce refutes the accusations, they are also seeking damages on Mourinho’s behalf. The 1.907 million Turkish Lira fee (around $52,000) holds significant symbolic meaning, as the amount corresponds to the year Fenerbahce was founded: 1907.
Mourinho banned for four matches
In addition to the Galatasaray allegations, Mourinho also faced disciplinary action from the Turkish Football Federation after making derogatory comments about Turkish referees and the league’s officiating system, a topic he has frequently criticized.
For his “derogatory and offensive statements towards the Turkish referee” during the Istanbul derby, as well as his “offensive remarks” about Turkish soccer, Mourinho was banned for four games and fined more than £35,000. He will be replaced by assistant coach Salvatore Foti until Mourinho returns to the Turkish league on March 30th for the match against Bodrum FK.
Mourinho receives support from former players
The controversy surrounding Mourinho’s comments sparked global reactions, including from former players who had worked under him. Michael Essien and Didier Drogba, two of Mourinho’s former players at Chelsea, publicly defended him.
Essien shared a photo with Drogba and Mourinho on Instagram, but it was Drogba’s message, in particular, that resonated deeply, given his history with Galatasaray:
“Dear Galatasaray… Ive seen the recent comments about Jose Mourinho. Trust me when I tell you I have known Jose for 25 years and he is not a racist and history (past and recent ) is there to prove it. Let’s focus on our games, support our brilliant lions and let’s win the league to get close to our 5. How can my ‘Dad’ be a racist?,” was part of the message Drogba wrote on his X account.