ISTANBUL — Jose Mourinho’s recent outburst in Turkey has had significant consequences for the Fenerbahce coach. His fiery remarks about Turkish football, in which he claimed he was up against a biased “system” and implied that officials were favoring others over his team, have led to disciplinary action against him.
The Turkish Football Federation’s disciplinary panel deemed Mourinho’s statements unsportsmanlike, resulting in a hefty fine of 900,000 Turkish lira (approximately $26,200) for his doubts regarding the neutrality of referees and match officials. Additionally, he received a one-match suspension, accompanied by a further fine of 58,500 lira (about $1,700) for his unsporting behavior toward rival fans. This suspension also restricts him from accessing his team’s locker room during the game. Mourinho will fulfill this ban on Sunday when Fenerbahce faces Sivasspor at home.
In his first season with Fenerbahce, Mourinho sparked controversy by asserting that the Turkish league “smells bad” and questioned the appeal of the league to international supporters. He expressed that he might not have accepted the coaching position had club officials been completely candid about the dynamics of the league and its operations.
His outburst followed a thrilling match against Trabzonspor, where Fenerbahce clinched a 3-2 victory thanks to a last-minute goal scored in the 12th minute of added time. The victory prompted exuberant celebrations from Mourinho, who attempted an enthusiastic knee slide across the field but ended up tumbling onto the pitch.
On Thursday, Mourinho’s presence was missed as he watched from the stands during Fenerbahce’s 3-1 defeat to AZ Alkmaar in the Europa League, serving a one-match ban after being shown a red card in a previous match against Manchester United. Following that incident, the seasoned coach, aged 61, remarked that he would be willing to manage a team not competing in UEFA tournaments, playfully suggesting that he is open to coaching a struggling team in England if the opportunity arises in two years.
Mourinho took over at Fenerbahce in June with a mission to restore the club to its former glory. The team has not claimed a league title since 2014 and, after completing ten games this season, is currently five points behind archrival Galatasaray, who sits at the top of the table.