Jose Mourinho has launched a legal claim for damages against Galatasaray due to the “attack on the personal rights” of the Fenerbahce coach.
Mourinho sparked controversy following Monday’s goalless draw between the sides after claiming members of the Gala coaching staff were “jumping like monkeys” in an attempt to get Fener defender Yusuf Akcicek booked.
That incensed Gala who threatened criminal proceedings against Mourinho after claiming he had used “inhumane rhetoric”.
In response, Mourinho has today said he will seek damages of 1.907million Turkish Lira (Fenerbahce were created in 1907) against Fener’s Istanbul rivals.
A Fener statement read: “We would like to announce to the public that a lawsuit for non-pecuniary damages of 1,907,000 Turkish Lira has been filed against Galatasaray Sports Club by Jose Mourinho through Fenerbahçe Sports Club lawyers due to the attack on the personal rights of our Technical Director Jose Mourinho.”
Former Galatasaray striker Didier Drogba, who played for Mourinho at Chelsea, urged his former club to drop their case and described the 62-year-old as his “Dad”.
Mourinho fined and banned for four games
The TFF banned Mourinho for four games yesterday and fined him £35,000 after stating he came to the referees’ room after the game and directed “derogatory and offensive statements” towards the fourth official, who was Turkish.
It is said that the former Chelsea boss “accused Turkish football of chaos and disorder with insulting and offensive statements towards both the Turkish football community and all Turkish referees”.
The TFF stated that Mourinho’s “actions and remarks, which insulted the brand value of football in Turkey,” led to a decision to impose a two-match ban from the dressing room and touchline, along with a fine of 117,000 Turkish lira (£2,500).
‘Contrary to the ethics of sport’
Regarding his post-match press conference comments, the TFF said: “It was determined that the statements used towards the members of the opposing team, were not mandatory, were contrary to the ethics of sports and the concept of fair play, contained expressions that could encourage violence and disorder in sports, were divisive and separatist in society and could cause fan incidents, and therefore, it was deemed an act against sportsmanship.”
As a result, a fine of 1.5m TL (£32,655) was imposed alongside another two-match ban.
Fenerbahce are six points behind Galatasaray at the top of the Turkish Super Lig table with 12 matches remaining for each team.
