Istanbul, Turkey — Fenerbahce manager Jose Mourinho has filed a 1,907,000 Turkish Lira (approximately £41,000) lawsuit against Galatasaray after the club accused him of making racist statements during Monday’s heated Istanbul derby.

The lawsuit, announced on Friday, was described as a defense of Mourinho’s “personal rights” following what Fenerbahce claimed was an attack on his reputation. The lawsuit amount is symbolic, referencing the year 1907, when Fenerbahce Sports Club was founded.

The accusations stem from comments Mourinho made following the 0-0 draw, in which he criticized Turkish referees and described the behavior of the Galatasaray bench as “jumping like monkeys.”

The Portuguese coach’s remarks quickly drew backlash, leading to a statement from Galatasaray condemning his language as racist. On Tuesday, Fenerbahce issued a response, asserting that Mourinho’s words had been “completely taken out of context.”

The Turkish Football Federation (TFF) responded decisively, banning Mourinho for four matches and imposing a fine totaling £35,194 for what it described as “derogatory and offensive statements” towards Turkish referees and the nation’s football community.

The TFF’s statement emphasized that Mourinho’s language was “contrary to the ethics of sports and the concept of fair play,” and could potentially incite violence and discord among fans.

Mourinho’s contentious comments followed a match refereed by Slovenian official Slavko Vincic, who was brought in after both clubs requested a foreign referee to manage the high-stakes encounter.

During the post-match press conference, Mourinho did not hold back, suggesting that the use of a Turkish referee would have been a “disaster” and implying that early decisions would have unfairly penalized Fenerbahce.

In one particularly inflammatory remark, Mourinho stated, “after the big dive in the first minute and their bench jumping like monkeys on the top of the kid… with a Turkish referee you would have a yellow card after one minute and after five minutes I would have to change him.”

This comment was cited directly in the TFF’s disciplinary notice, which argued that such statements were not only disrespectful but also risked “encouraging violence and disorder in sports.”

Mourinho’s legal team argues that the allegations of racism are baseless and are part of a broader campaign to tarnish the coach’s reputation. Fenerbahce’s statement accused Galatasaray of exploiting the situation to stoke tensions between the clubs. They insisted that the lawsuit was a necessary step to “protect the honor and dignity” of Mourinho against what they called a “defamatory attack.”

The escalating tensions between the two Istanbul clubs have cast a shadow over the remainder of the Turkish football season, with fan groups on both sides engaging in heated exchanges on social media. The outcome of Mourinho’s lawsuit could significantly impact relations between the two clubs, already known for one of the most intense rivalries in European football.

As the controversy unfolds, observers are closely watching how both the TFF and UEFA respond to the situation. For now, Mourinho faces an immediate challenge in managing Fenerbahce from the sidelines, given his suspension and the ongoing backlash to his remarks.