In a dramatic turn of events after a tense Turkish Cup match, Fenerbahce`s manager, Jose Mourinho, was seen grabbing the nose of Galatasaray`s head coach, Okan Buruk. This incident occurred following Galatasaray`s 2-1 victory over Fenerbahce, a game where former Napoli star Victor Osimhen scored twice.
The match, played at Fenerbahce`s home ground, reached a boiling point in its final moments. Mourinho approached Buruk and made the gesture, grabbing him by the nose. Buruk reacted by falling to the ground, seemingly exaggerating Mourinho`s action. Mourinho then quickly retreated to the dressing room.
Mourinho, known for his stints at major European clubs like Chelsea and Inter, joined Fenerbahce in the summer of 2024 after leaving AS Roma in January. Since his arrival in Turkey, he has been a prominent figure, engaging in verbal clashes with rival teams. Notably, Galatasaray had recently taken legal action against Mourinho over alleged racist remarks he made during a press conference in February.
The rivalry between Fenerbahce and Galatasaray has intensified this season, especially with Mourinho`s outspoken nature. He has frequently criticized the Turkish league`s management and accused Galatasaray of corruption. The tension peaked in the recent derby when the Turkish Football Federation assigned a foreign referee, deploying 30,000 police officers for security at Galatasaray`s stadium.
This is not the first time Mourinho has been involved in such incidents. In 2011, during a Spanish Super Cup match between Real Madrid and Barcelona, he poked Tito Vilanova, then Barcelona`s assistant manager, in the eye. This occurred after a heated moment where Marcelo of Real Madrid was sent off. Mourinho received a two-match ban for that incident, while Vilanova received a one-match ban, but both were later controversially lifted.
The football world now awaits the disciplinary action Mourinho will face for this latest incident. Reports suggest he might be facing a suspension of up to four games.
