Galatasaray has accused Fenerbahce manager Jose Mourinho of “physically attacking” their coach Okan Buruk following a fiery Turkish Cup quarter-final match.
The incident reportedly occurred after the final whistle when Mourinho appeared to pinch Buruk’s nose, causing him to fall to the ground.
Galatasaray vice-president Metin Ozturk condemned Mourinho’s actions, questioning his respect for Turkey and calling for Fenerbahce to impose sanctions before the football federation takes action.
Despite the accusation, Galatasaray manager Okan Buruk downplayed the incident in his post-match press conference, stating there was “nothing between me and Mourinho.” He acknowledged the nose pinch and a “slight scratch,” adding it was “not a very nice or elegant thing to do” and that managers should behave more appropriately.
The derby match, which Galatasaray won 2-1 with two goals from Victor Osimhen, also saw three red cards issued to substitutes from both teams during a stoppage-time melee.
This incident adds to the existing tension between Mourinho and Galatasaray. Following a previous league match, Galatasaray accused Mourinho of making “racist statements” and threatened legal action, while Mourinho himself launched a lawsuit against Galatasaray. The Turkish Football Federation has also previously handed Mourinho a four-game ban for separate disciplinary issues. Fenerbahce has been contacted for a response to the latest allegations.
