Fenerbahce manager Jose Mourinho caused a stir when he grabbed Galatasaray head coach Okan Buruk by the nose. This incident occurred after Galatasaray defeated Fenerbahce 2-1 in the Turkish Cup, with former Napoli striker Victor Osimhen scoring both goals for Galatasaray. Tensions escalated during the final moments of the match, played at Fenerbahce`s home stadium, leading to Mourinho`s physical interaction with his rival manager.
Okan Buruk reacted dramatically on the field, seemingly exaggerating Mourinho`s gesture, while Mourinho quickly retreated to the locker room. Mourinho, known for his tenures at major European clubs like Chelsea and Inter, joined Fenerbahce in the summer of 2024 after his dismissal from AS Roma in January 2024. Since arriving in Turkey, Mourinho has been outspoken, engaging in verbal disputes with city rivals. Notably, Galatasaray recently initiated legal action against Mourinho for alleged racist remarks made during a February press conference, where he described the opposing team`s bench as jumping `like monkeys`.
The rivalry between these two historic clubs has intensified this season, particularly with Mourinho`s arrival. The former Real Madrid coach has frequently voiced his criticism of the league`s management, accusing Galatasaray of corruption on several occasions. With Galatasaray currently leading the league by six points, the tension reached a high point when the Turkish Football Federation decided to appoint a foreign referee for the recent league derby, which was held with a significant police presence at Galatasaray`s home stadium.
This is not the first instance of Mourinho being involved in confrontations with rival team personnel. In August 2011, during the Spanish Super Cup at Camp Nou, Mourinho was involved in an incident with Tito Vilanova, then assistant manager to Pep Guardiola at Barcelona. At that time, Mourinho managed Real Madrid, and this particular match highlighted the intense rivalry between the two Spanish giants over the past decade.
Following a red card given to Real Madrid`s Marcelo for a challenge on Cesc Fabregas, Mourinho approached Vilanova from behind and poked him in the eye, as captured by television cameras. Subsequently, the Spanish FA initially imposed a two-match ban on Mourinho and a one-match ban on Vilanova, but these suspensions were controversially lifted in July 2012.
The potential disciplinary actions Mourinho may face are still uncertain, but reports suggest he could receive a suspension of up to four games.
Dominic Ashworth