Tensions flared in the Turkish Cup quarter-final between Galatasaray and Fenerbahce after Galatasaray accused Fenerbahce boss Jose Mourinho of grabbing their coach Okan Buruk’s nose during a post-match altercation.
The controversial incident occurred at the Sukru Saracoglu Stadium as both coaches stood near the officials. Mourinho approached Buruk from behind and pinched his nose, causing the Galatasaray coach to stumble and clutch his face.
“Mourinho first spoke and then hit our coach,” claimed Galatasaray’s vice-chair Metin Ozturk. “Where can he do this? What does he think of Turkey? Fenerbahce’s management must act before the federation does.”
Despite the fiery accusations, Buruk downplayed the confrontation in his post-match press conference.
“Nothing between me and Mourinho,” he stated. “He pinched my nose from behind. A slight scratch. Not nice or smart. We expect more from managers. I won’t make this big, but it wasn’t good.”
The match itself was a dramatic affair, with Galatasaray securing a 2-1 victory thanks to a brace from Victor Osimhen.
However, tempers boiled over in stoppage time, leading to a mass brawl that saw Fenerbahce substitute Mert Yandas and Galatasaray substitutes Kerem Demirbay and Baris Yilmaz all receive red cards.
This is not the first time Mourinho has clashed with Galatasaray. Following a goalless draw in the Turkish Super Lig in February, the club announced plans to sue the Portuguese coach over alleged “racist words.”
The Turkish FA later handed Mourinho a four-match ban and fined him £35,194 (Ksh 5,879,819.35). In response, Mourinho launched legal action against Galatasaray, claiming an “attack on his personal rights.”
