On February 25, 2025, Turkish football club Galatasaray accused Fenerbahçe's head coach, José Mourinho, of making racist remarks following a goalless Istanbul derby. The controversy centers on Mourinho's post-match comments, where he described the behavior of the Galatasaray bench as "jumping like monkeys" during a contentious moment in the game. Additionally, Mourinho criticized Turkish referees, suggesting that the match would have been a "disaster" under their officiation, and expressed relief that Slovenian referee Slavko Vincic oversaw the game.
In response, Galatasaray announced their intention to initiate criminal proceedings against Mourinho and to file official complaints with UEFA and FIFA. The club's statement emphasized that Mourinho's remarks had escalated from "immoral" to "inhumane" and underscored their commitment to combating racism. Fenerbahçe's vice-president, Acun Ilicali, defended Mourinho, stating that his comments were metaphorical and not intended to be racist, and accused Galatasaray of manipulating the situation.
This incident adds to the existing tensions between the two Istanbul clubs and raises broader concerns about racism and conduct within professional football. The football community now awaits potential actions from governing bodies and the legal outcomes of Galatasaray's complaints.
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