In a heated Istanbul derby clash, a dramatic incident saw Fenerbahce’s coach, Jose Mourinho, facing disciplinary actions. After a contentious match against Galatasaray, Mourinho was handed a fine and a three-match suspension for an altercation with Galatasaray’s coach, Okan Buruk.
The conflict arose after Galatasaray’s 2-1 victory over Fenerbahce in the Turkish Cup. In an unexpected turn, Mourinho approached Buruk from behind and made contact with his nose, causing Buruk to fall to the ground clutching his face. Subsequently, Mourinho had to be escorted from the scene. Fenerbahce later criticized Buruk, claiming he exaggerated the contact as though he had been “shot.”
Serving the first of his three-match ban, Mourinho was absent from the sidelines as his team secured a 4-1 victory over Trabzonspor on Sunday. Consequently, he will also miss two upcoming league games against Sivasspor and Kayserispor. Alongside the ban, the Turkish soccer federation imposed a financial penalty on Mourinho, totaling approximately $7,700.
Currently, Fenerbahce is in second place in the Super Lig, trailing Galatasaray by three points as the season progresses. The incident has intensified the rivalry and added tension to an already closely contested league battle.