Is this moment behind Jose Mourinho‘s accusation that Galatasaray were ‘jumping like monkeys’?
Mourinho has landed himself in hot water after making the jibe about Galatasaray’s bench, with the Turkish giants threatening legal action for his ‘racist comments’.
His Fenerbahce side played out a 0-0 draw in a hot-tempered Istanbul derby on Monday night, with a reported 30,000 police officers called in to help manage the clash.
The grudge game was temporarily suspended by referee Slavko Vincic after a group of Fenerbahce fans started pelting flares at the Galatasaray supporters.
And afterwards Mourinho praised Vincic for his handling of the affair, leading to his comment about the Galatasaray touchline tribe.
Now, a clip has emerged of his rival boss Okan Buruk leaping around after a particularly intense moment. Was this inspiration for Mourinho’s dig?
Jose Mourinho was accused of making a ‘racist comment’ by Galatasaray after saying their bench was ‘jumping like monkeys’ during their 0-0 draw with Fenerbahce on Monday night
Footage has emerged of Galatasaray manager Okan Buruk jumping during the chaotic match
Seven yellow cards were dished out and Slovenian referee Vincic had to interrupt the clash in the 52nd minute. The players also refused to shake hands before kick-off.
But all the controversy in the build-up to and in the aftermath of the clash centred around Mourinho.
In the build-up to the match, the Portuguese, who has regularly criticised referees in Turkey since becoming Fenerbahce manager, welcomed the Turkish Football Federation’s decision to appoint a foreign referee to officiate.
After the match, Mourinho praised referee Vincic’s performance – saying things would have been different with a Turkish official. He then said that the home team’s bench were ‘jumping like monkeys’.
‘I must also thank the referee,’ said the former Man United, Tottenham Hotspur and Chelsea boss.
‘He had enough honesty to manage this match well. They tried to get a yellow card for our 18-year-old player from the first minute, but the referee managed the game well.’
‘Everyone on the opponent’s bench was jumping like monkeys. If it were a Turkish referee, they would have immediately given the card, and I would have had to take the player off in a minute.’
And, in response to Mourinho’s comments, Galatasaray released a damning statement, accompanied by a #SayNoToRacism tag.
The Turkish league leaders have threatened legal action against the Portuguese manager
There was trouble in Istanbul despite a reported 30,000 police officers on duty at the game
The match, which finished 0-0, was interrupted after a raft of flares were thrown in the stands
‘Since the commencement of his managerial duties in Turkey, Fenerbahce manager Jose Mourinho has persistently issued derogatory statements directed towards the Turkish people,’ it read.
‘Today, his discourse has escalated beyond merely immoral comments into unequivocally inhumane rhetoric.
‘We hereby formally declare our intention to initiate criminal proceedings concerning the racist statements made by Jose Mourinho, and shall accordingly submit official complaints to UEFA and FIFA.
‘Furthermore, we shall diligently observe the stance adopted by Fenerbahce – an institution professing to uphold “exemplary moral values” – in response to the reprehensible conduct exhibited by their manager. #SayNoToRacism.’
Mourinho is yet to respond to the allegations made against him. However, Fenerbahce vice president Acun Ilicali had some emotional words on the matter.
‘Our eyes filled with tears while listening to Eray Yazgan (Galatasaray chief who called for Mourinho’s punishment).
‘If you say monkey to a black person, it is racism. If you say it to white people, what kind of racism is this! What kind of racism is this?
‘When I say “don’t jump like a squirrel, don’t jump like a monkey”, what kind of racism is this? While people are jumping for a yellow card, if this group is white… what Jose Mourinho said there is that people are jumping and reacting too much. This is not about the colour of that club.
The Turkish Football Federation appointed a foreign ref, Slovenian Slavko Vincic, for the clash
Jose Mourinho has regularly criticised referees in Turkey since becoming Fenerbahce boss
‘He doesn’t physically compare those in that club to monkeys. You are jumping, monkeys jump in the forest… he says “you are jumping for a yellow card, ;ike a monkey’.
‘If I say “don’t jump,” am I a racist too? We get that you played badly, we get that you criticized the referee! When did you become racist? Don’t take anyone for fools!’
In contrast to his Portuguese counterpart, Galatasaray boss Buruk was irritated by the referee’s performance.
‘After the match I said to the referee “You performed worse than the Turkish referees”. The match stopped incredibly, the referee kept calling fouls. I am unhappy with Vincic’s performance,’ he said.