After the Galatasaray controversy, Jose Mourinho made a furious speech about the trial of the Turkish Super League
Fenerbahce manager Jose Mourinho has made an iconic rant about officiating in the Turkish Super League, claiming the league operates in a “toxic” environment.
His comments followed Galatasaray’s controversial 2-1 win over Goztepe, a result which saw them move eight points clear at the top of the table.
Goztepe, feeling wronged by the officiating in Saturday’s game, issued a statement demanding immediate action.
The club called for the “immediate establishment of a temporary system of foreign referees” and expressed their frustration with the league, stating: “We want a League of deserving winners.”
Speaking after Fenerbahce’s 2-1 win against Hatayspor on Sunday, Mourinho commented on the controversy.
He shared his frustration, saying: “Everyone was saying the same thing, scandal, scandal. I learned a new word [in Turkish].
“I think some of you [media] i like it. Even the winners like it, which is worst of all. Because winning at any cost and in this way is the worst thing.
“I’ve never seen something like this before, it’s a scandal” 💬
Jose Mourinho harshly attacked the judges in Turkey, and Fenerbahce is considering boycotting the Turkish Cup in protest 🇹🇷 pic.twitter.com/YXoeaRVVzf
— Sky Sports News (@SkySportsNews) January 6, 2025
“In terms of feeling something that’s poisonous, we do [it]obviously, we feel. After 25 years as a coach and 35 in football, 10 as an assistant, I have never seen anything like this.
“It has a dimension that goes beyond anything that can be understood. I don’t think this is a situation where one club, fighting, will destroy a system that is very strong and that exists.
“This is the league I work in, it will be my league for hopefully at least two years. But this is your league.
“This is the league of every kid who loves football, who dreams of being a football player… If you are happy with this status quo, then be happy. I don’t think it’s something the club can solve individually.”
Mourinho has also criticized the officiating in Fenerbahce’s recent games, pointing to missed calls that left him feeling at a disadvantage for his team.
“In the last two matches, we are talking about five red cards [should have been shown] against our opponents,” he said.
“The opponents know how they can play against us, and our players feel it.”
Mourinho joined Fenerbahce this summer with the aim of winning their first league title in a decade.
However, his scathing criticism of the league’s officiating and structure suggests he believes there are significant off-field hurdles to overcome before he can be successful.
