Football Coach Jose Mourinho Grabs Galatasaray Coach’s Nose after Turkish Cup Defeat
Looks like Jose Mourinho has found a way to keep himself in the news, even if it’s for all the wrong reasons. As they say, any publicity is good publicity.
An infamous incident involving the legendary coach and current manager of the Turkish football team Fenerbahce, took place on April 2, Wednesday. This unfortunate action happened during a quarter-final match of the ongoing Turkish Cup, between Fenerbahce and the opponent team Galatasaray.
Mourinho got involved in a bizarre fight with the Galatasaray FC manager Okan Buruk, by grabbing his nose, following an embarrassing defeat in the tournament’s match. Despite goals being scored by both rival teams in the match, the rising tempers flared up, with police entering the pitch at last to restore the calm and control the out of hand situation.
A public display of problem arose between the players, after Gala won the game 2-1, all credit to a brace from Victor Osimhen. However, the game ended in acrimony as both benches got engaged in a mass scuffle, with the end result being three red cards for the two teams.
Substitute Kerim Demirbay was sent off for Gala, while Mert Hakan Yandas and Baris Alper Yilmaz were dismissed for Fener. Yilmaz was the only one of the trios to play, but he had been substituted at the time of his sending off.
Amid this chaos, Mourinho was seen grabbing the nose of Buruk, almost like a minor physical attack, but Buruk swiftly dropped to the ground holding his face. The scenes only got uglier, as this nasty act by Jose post the match full-time has put him in an unhealthy light amongst the football fraternity.
“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”.
Galatasaray vice president Metin Ozturk was not so restrained in his response to a fresh controversy involving the outspoken Mourinho.
“The latest incident is not only an attack on Galatasaray’s coach but also on Turkish football. This is Mourinho, I don’t know where he gets this courage. “Where in the world can he do this?
It’s the latest controversial incident involving Mourinho this season.
The Portuguese coach, who has repeatedly criticized Turkish refereeing, was handed a four-game ban in February for his offensive comments that he had passed for the match officials, after his side’s previous meeting with the same club, Galatasaray.
He was also accused by Galatasaray of making racist remarks following that game.
In response, the Galatasaray FC said the former Real Madrid; Manchester United and Chelsea manager had used “unequivocally inhumane rhetoric” after he referred to the opposition bench “jumping around like monkeys.” Mourinho had later sued the club over their accusations.
Being embroiled in such controversies does not speak highly of a reputed coach like Mourinho. Despite the quarter-final match being his first game since his return post the four-match ban punishment, there was no change in his approach.
The unabashed and carefree attitude continued even in the match, with Mourinho probably facing a fresh ban after his poor conduct following the final whistle.
His team Fenerbahce faces the Trabzonspor FC on Sunday, April 6, in the Super Lig match. As a club, it has won 19 Super Lig Championships, while Galatasaray has been the most renowned one, with 24 titles to their credit.
By: Tulika Agarwal
