Fenerbahce manager Jose Mourinho has received a one-match suspension and a substantial fine following his recent criticisms of Turkish football.
The former Chelsea boss claimed to be battling against “the system” and suggested that referees showed bias against his team.
The Turkish Football Federation’s disciplinary board imposed a 900,000 Turkish lira fine (roughly £25,000) on Mourinho, citing unsportsmanlike behavior for his accusations against referees and match officials.
Additionally, he was fined another 58,500 lira (about £1,300) for his conduct toward opposing fans and will be prohibited from accessing Fenerbahce’s locker room during his suspension.
Mourinho’s ban will take effect on Sunday, sidelining him from the team’s home match against Sivasspor.
Mourinho’s outburst came on Sunday after his squad defeated Trabzonspor 3-2 with a thrilling last-minute goal in the 12th minute of stoppage time, which led to a jubilant celebration by the Portuguese manager, who slid onto the field but tumbled forward onto the grass.
Jose Mourinho celebrating Fenerbahçe’s victory with a knee slide 😅
— CentreGoals. (@centregoals) November 3, 2024
Following the game, Mourinho criticised the Turkish league, calling it “badly organized” and questioning why international fans would tune in to watch.
He also expressed frustration, claiming he wouldn’t have accepted the Fenerbahce role had he known “the whole truth” about the league’s structure.
On Thursday, Mourinho observed from the stands as Fenerbahce lost 3-1 to AZ Alkmaar in the Europa League due to a separate one-match ban following a red card against Manchester United.
Reflecting on his ban, the 61-year-old said he might consider coaching a team outside UEFA competitions, mentioning the possibility of working with a struggling club in England in the future.
Since joining Fenerbahce in June, Mourinho’s goal has been to elevate the club to a title-winning level after nearly a decade without a league championship.
Currently, after ten league matches, Fenerbahce trail rivals Galatasaray by five points.
