Fenerbahçe head coach José Mourinho is again making headlines for the wrong reasons after pinching the nose of his rival, Galatasaray coach Okan Buruk, following his team’s elimination from the Turkish Cup in a heated match on Wednesday, April 2.
The controversial football manager, known for his successful tenures across various European leagues, escalated the fierce rivalry between Galatasaray and Fenerbahçe after his team was knocked out of the domestic cup competition.
In widely shared footage on social media, Mourinho is seen reaching out from behind Buruk and making contact with his nose. This led to Buruk falling to the ground while holding his face, prompting individuals to escort Mourinho away.
The Istanbul derby at Fenerbahçe’s stadium saw three players sent off, all during the second minute of stoppage time, as Galatasaray won 2-1. The game had to be paused due to a mass brawl that involved both teams’ benches.
Buruk commented on the incident after the quarterfinal match, saying,
“He squeezed my nose from behind while I was going on. There was a slight scratch. Of course, it’s not a very nice and stylish thing,” Buruk said after the quarterfinal match. “I won’t exaggerate about it, but it’s not a very stylish thing.”
Galatasaray vice president Metin Ozturk was less restrained in his response to the controversy involving the outspoken Mourinho.
“This latest incident is not just an attack on Galatasaray’s coach; it’s an attack on Turkish football. This is Mourinho; I don’t know where he gets this courage,” he stated
Following their victory, Galatasaray posted a picture on their official X account of a smiling Buruk looking in Mourinho’s direction, with the caption, “YOU SHOULD NOT ATTACK, YOU SHOULD DIGEST!”
