Turkish football has been rocked by an escalating scandal involving leaked messages that allege a conspiracy among top officials to target Fenerbahçe head coach Jose Mourinho. The controversy has prompted the resignation of the entire board of directors of the Turkish Football Federation (TFF) committee, including its president, Celal Nuri Demirtürk.
The storm erupted following the public release of text messages related to Mourinho’s outspoken grievances over refereeing decisions. The initial flashpoint occurred in February, after Fenerbahçe’s goalless draw with arch-rivals Galatasaray.
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Mourinho, a manager with a storied career at clubs like Chelsea and Manchester United, subsequently faced a four-match suspension and a significant £35,000 fine. The disciplinary action was levied for his “derogatory and offensive statements towards the Turkish referee” and his broader, scathing remarks accusing “Turkish football of chaos and disorder with insulting and offensive statements towards both the Turkish football community and all Turkish referees.”
In a dramatic turn, Mourinho announced his intention to pursue legal action against Galatasaray. This decision follows allegations of racism from the Istanbul club, after the Portuguese coach described their bench as having “jumped around like monkeys” during the contentious draw. Mourinho had previously been quoted as criticizing Turkish referees, stating they were “worse than I thought” and “smell bad.”
The explosive revelations from the leaked messages have ignited widespread outrage, particularly from Fenerbahçe. The club swiftly responded with a forceful statement, demanding accountability and challenging the fundamental fairness of the sport.
A spokesperson for Fenerbahçe declared, “Our club has made an official application to the Turkish Football Federation in response to the correspondence that has been made public today and is claimed to belong to members of the Professional Football Disciplinary Board.” The statement continued, expressing profound concern: “We believe that this hostile mentality, which clearly violates the principle of impartiality and is based on showdowns and revenge, has no place in Turkish Sports.”
Adding to the club’s condemnation, Fenerbahçe General Secretary Burak Kizilhan emphasized the gravity of the situation: “If these allegations are true, not only would the impartiality of the relevant board be compromised, but the institutional reputation and public trust in the Turkish Football Federation would be seriously damaged. For individuals who serve on one of the most important boards with the duty to establish justice in Turkish football to be involved in such statements would render the concept of ‘discipline’ ineffective and constitute a clear attack on the principles of impartiality and equality.”
This latest development adds to a series of contentious incidents involving Mourinho since his arrival in Turkey. Notably, during an early April clash between Fenerbahçe and Galatasaray, a peculiar post-match confrontation saw Mourinho famously grab rival manager Okan Buruk’s nose, an incident that also led to a three-game suspension for the Portuguese coach. The confluence of these events has plunged Turkish football into a deep crisis, with demands for transparency and reform at an all-time high.
