Fenerbahce manager Jose Mourinho has taken legal action against Turkish club Galatasaray following accusations that he made racist remarks.
According to a statement released by Fenerbahce on Friday, Mourinho is suing Galatasaray for 1,907,000 Turkish lira ($52,223), citing an “attack on the personal rights” of the Portuguese coach.
The lawsuit follows Monday’s Istanbul derby between Fenerbahce and Galatasaray, which ended in a goalless draw.
After the match, Galatasaray accused Mourinho of making racist statements and announced plans to initiate criminal proceedings against him.
During his post-match press conference, Mourinho commented on the behavior of Galatasaray’s bench, stating, “The home side’s bench had been jumping like monkeys,” and suggested that the game would have turned chaotic if officiated by a Turkish referee.
As a result of these remarks, the Turkish Football Federation (TFF) handed Jose Mourinho four-match suspension, citing “derogatory and offensive statements” as well as claims that he undermined the integrity of Turkish football.
When asked for a response, a Galatasaray spokesperson confirmed that the club had already filed a lawsuit against Mourinho but declined to provide further comments.