Fenerbahce break silence on Jose Mourinho clash with Galatasaray manager Okan Buruk | Football

Fenerbahce have defended Jose Mourinho over his altercation with Galatasaray manager Okan Buruk in the Turkish Cup on Wednesday evening.

Mourinho, who has already been handed a two-match ban this season, faces another suspension after he grabbed Buruk by the nose following Fenerbahce’s 2-1 defeat at home to their arch rivals.

Buruk fell to the floor after being touched, while Mourinho, who was given a red card after the game, was pulled away from the situation by a member of his coaching staff.

Mourinho was unable to address the incident after the match as the red card prevented him from speaking at the post-match press conference.

However, Fenerbahce have now jumped to Mourinho’s defence and have accused Buruk of ‘planned and excessive provocations’ during the Turkish Cup tie.

A statement from Fenerbahce on Thursday read: ‘This is our statement regarding Okan Buruk, who approached our manager Jose Mourinho, who was meeting with the referees after the match yesterday, under the pretext of shaking their hands, provoked our manager with hand gestures and statements, and had the audacity to make disrespectful hand gestures after crossing the police line.

‘After our manager momentarily touched his nose in response to these provocations, the person in question threw himself to the ground in an exaggerated manner.

‘The disrespectful words and actions of this person, who professionally threw himself to the ground as if he had been “shot” as a continuation of his planned and excessive provocations, are recorded with images.

‘The meaninglessness and the acting of a person who is touched on the nose and jumps to the ground and writhes for seconds is known to the public.

‘It is obvious that the images of this person throwing himself to the ground from his football career continued in his career as a coach, and that this attitude is a characteristic stance.

‘It is clear that the evaluation of the ugly provocations and what happened afterwards should not be one-sided, but should be based on a cause-and-effect relationship.’

When asked about the incident after Galatasaray’s win, Buruk said: ‘Nothing happened between me and him. While I was going to congratulate the referee, he was leaving, and while I was continuing, he pinched my nose from behind.

‘It was a slight scratch. It’s not a nice or elegant thing. We always want to stay in the game. I won’t exaggerate this.

‘We were supposed to shake hands before and after the game. We didn’t experience that. It’s not a big deal, I won’t exaggerate.’

Galatasaray’s vice-president, Metin Ozturk, said: ‘Our manager Okan and Mourinho congratulated the referees. After that, while Okan was continuing, Mourinho first verbally and then physically attacked him.

‘Where else in the world can he do this? What does he think of Turkey?

‘I believe that Fenerbahce’s management will impose the necessary sanction before the federation does.’

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