Mourinho receives three-match suspension for unsportsmanlike conduct in Turkey

José Mourinho, the 62-year-old manager of Fenerbahçe, has been suspended for three matches due to unsportsmanlike behavior displayed during a Turkish Cup match. His unexpected action of pulling the opposing coach's nose led to the suspension.

British 'Sky Sports' reported on the 6th (Korean time) that "Mourinho engaged in a battle of nerves with Okan Buruk after their match against Galatasaray in the quarter-finals of the Turkish Cup on the 3rd (Fenerbahçe lost 1-2). Afterward, he received a suspension for grabbing his opponent's face."

The Turkish Football Federation (TFF) classified Mourinho's actions as 'contrary to the spirit of sports' and imposed a ban from the bench for three matches along with a fine of £6,000 (approximately 11.3 million won). He will be unable to manage in three matches against Trabzonspor, Sivaspor, and Kayserispor in the Süper Lig.

The incident occurred immediately after the match against Galatasaray. Mourinho pulled Buruk's nose from behind as Buruk was heading toward the Galatasaray bench after greeting the referees. Buruk covered his face and collapsed while expressing pain on-site.

Buruk said at the press conference, "I sustained minor injuries, but I don't want to escalate the matter further."

However, Galatasaray and its officials responded firmly. The club posted a message on social media seemingly directed at Mourinho, urging him to 'not attack and manage his emotions well.' Galatasaray Vice President Metin Öztürk stated, "Mourinho has escalated verbal provocations into physical confrontations, and Fenerbahçe should be the one to impose disciplinary actions first."

This is not the first time Mourinho has sparked controversy over his inability to control his emotions.

In February, he created a stir after a 'Istanbul derby' against Galatasaray by expressing dissatisfaction with the refereeing decision. At that time, Mourinho allegedly said to the Galatasaray bench, "jumping around like monkeys," leading to accusations of racism. The TFF imposed a two-match suspension plus an additional two-match suspension for protesting against the referee, along with a fine of 1.6 million lira (approximately 64 million won). However, after an appeal was accepted, the suspension was halved.

Mourinho has been involved in controversies multiple times in the past. In November of last year, he received a suspension due to a clash with a referee. Though he has lifted numerous trophies with teams such as Porto, Chelsea, Inter Milan, and Real Madrid, his troublesome behavior continues.

Mourinho also has experience working with Son Heung-min at Tottenham. Despite being labeled a 'troublemaker' due to his fiery temperament and straightforward speech, Fenerbahçe's trust in him remains strong.

Feti Pekin, a member of the Fenerbahçe board, said, "Mourinho is not simply a manager for maintaining the status quo. He represents everything this club desires. He is a person with ambition, courage, and an obsession with victory."

He further stated, "What happened in the recent derby was an organized provocation that went beyond the football rivalry. Mourinho simply responded without being intimidated by such provocations. We fully support him."

Meanwhile, Fenerbahçe is in second place in the league, trailing Galatasaray by six points. Although they have one match less played, the absence of Mourinho for the remaining matches will likely intensify the competition for the championship.

[OSEN]