Fenerbahce manager Jose Mourinho has been handed a four-game ban by the Turkish Football Federation (TFF) for comments made after Monday’s Istanbul derby at Galatasaray, Afrosport reports.
The TFF on Thursday also confirmed a total fine of 1,617,000 Turkish lira (TL) for Mourinho for two separate disciplinary issues.
The 62-year-old Portuguese boss was accused by Galatasaray of making racist remarks after the goalless draw at RAMS Park in a Turkish Super Lig clash, which was refereed by Slovenian Slavko Vincic.
Mourinho said the Galatasaray bench had been “jumping like monkeys” and also doubled down on his criticism of Turkish referees, adding that the game would have been a “disaster” if an official from the country was in charge.
Galatasaray threatened to “initiate criminal proceedings” against the former Chelsea manager for his “racist statements”, while Fenerbahce responded by saying the comments were “deliberately taken entirely out of context and distorted in a misleading manner”.
The TFF confirmed it would penalise him for “his derogatory and offensive statements towards the Turkish referee” and added that he “accused Turkish football of chaos and disorder with insulting and offensive statements towards both the Turkish football community and all Turkish referees.”.
Mourinho received a two-game ban from entering the dressing room and dugout and was fined 117,000 TL.
He also got a separate two-match ban for “an act against sportsmanship” during his post-match news conference. The TFF fined him 1,500,000 TL, adding 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”.
Reports suggest Fenerbahce will appeal the sanctions against Mourinho, with the club also penalised for fan behaviour and asked to play two away games without supporters.
