Fenerbahce manager Jose Mourinho has debunked any claims of being racist following racism allegations made by rivals Galatasaray, Afrosport reports.
Speaking for the first time since the incident, Mourinho says he is the “opposite” of racist after Galatasaray claimed the Portuguese made racist remarks during his post-match conference after their 0-0 draw on 24 February.
“They [Galatasaray] were not clever in the way they attacked me, because they didn’t know my past,” Mourinho told Sky Sports in an exclusive interview.
“They didn’t know my connections with Africa, with African people and African players and African charities. So instead of going against me, I think it boomeranged and went against them.”
“Everyone knows who I am as a person. Everybody knows my bad qualities, but that is not one of my bad qualities. Exactly the opposite! The most important thing is I know who I am, and the attack accusing racism was a bad choice.”
After the Istanbul derby at RAMS Park, Mourinho said the Galatasaray bench had been “jumping like monkeys” during the game, with the Turkish Super Lig leaders revealing they would “initiate criminal proceedings”..
Fenerbahce, meanwhile, said Mourinho’s comments had been “completely taken out of context”, with the former Chelsea and Inter Milan boss filing a lawsuit of 1,907,000 Turkish lira against Galatasaray.
The 62-year-old got a lot of support from former players Didier Drogba, Michael Essien, and John Mikel Obi, who all played under him at Chelsea.
“I thank the people who didn’t have a problem to speak [out], especially my boys, my former players. They were a very important voice,” said Mourinho
Mourinho was handed a four-match ban by the Turkish Football Federation (TFF), which was later reduced to two games.
The Portuguese will be in the dugout when Fenerbahce takes on Rangers in their Europa League last 16 clash against Rangers on Thursday.
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