In a dramatic twist to the already-heated Istanbul derby, Fenerbahce manager Jose Mourinho has been slapped with a three-match suspension and a £6,000 ($7,734) fine after a bizarre nose-grabbing incident involving Galatasaray head coach Okan Buruk, the Turkish Football Federation (TFF) announced on Saturday.
The controversial moment unfolded at the end of the Turkish Cup quarter-final clash on Wednesday, where Mourinho’s Fenerbahce suffered a 2-1 home defeat to their fierce rivals, Galatasaray. Following a fiery match that saw tempers boil over and three red cards issued, two for Galatasaray, one for Fenerbahce, chaos erupted after the final whistle.
Amid the post-match melee, the 62-year-old Portuguese tactician was caught on camera grabbing Buruk’s nose, prompting the Galatasaray boss to theatrically fall to the ground, a moment that instantly went viral across social media platforms.
In response to the incident, the TFF issued a statement confirming the disciplinary action:
“Mourinho shall be banned from entering the dressing room and the bench for three official matches.”
This means Mourinho will miss critical upcoming Super Lig fixtures against Trabzonspor, Sivasspor, and Kayserispor, a major blow to Fenerbahce’s title hopes. The team currently sits second in the league table, six points behind leaders Galatasaray, but with a game in hand.
As the Super Lig title race intensifies, Mourinho’s suspension adds yet another layer of drama to what has already been a high-octane season in Turkish football.
