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Despite Fenerbahce’s win over Hatayspor in the Turkish Super Lig, Mourinho vented his anger at the match officials in a rant.
Football manager Jose Mourinho. (X)
Fenerbahce claimed a win in their last match against Hatayspor but that did not stop their manager, Jose Mourinho, from dissing the Super Lig’s referees. In a post shared by Sky Sports News on X (formerly Twitter), Mourinho even used the word “scandal”, addressing reporters during a press conference. He mentioned that his players had done their best, worked hard for 9 days, and achieved a clear victory. He added that if the opponent’s colours had been different, they could have been down to 8 players.
“We know the ‘toxic’ league we play in. They know how to play against us, how to play against the opponent. There should have been 5 reds in Eyüp and this match. This is the situation. Our players and our opponents know this. We have to continue on our way,” Mourinho told the reporters, as per Goal.
“I never saw anything like this before, it’s a scandal” 💬Jose Mourinho has launched a scathing attack on referees in Turkey with Fenerbahce considering boycotting the Turkish Cup in protest 🇹🇷 pic.twitter.com/YXoeaRVVzf
— Sky Sports News (@SkySportsNews) January 6, 2025
Mourinho went on a unique rant and added, “Why are you [the Turkish media] hiding the truth? What are people afraid of in this country? What are you afraid of? I know you are a journalist, I could be a journalist too, okay, but what are you afraid of? Is the point difference due to the football played? Speak the truth. Don’t ask me!”
It is not the first time Mourinho has vented his anger at the match officials. Criticising the quality of refereeing in Turkey, Mourinho expressed his anger back in November last year. Mourinho was disappointed following his side’s fixture against Trabzonspor. Fenerbahce did manage to win that game but the former Manchester United and Real Madrid manager was unhappy with hosts Trabzonspor getting two penalties. Sofyan Amrabat had netted a late goal in stoppage time to guide Fenerbahce to a 3-2 win.
Following that game, Mourinho took a dig at referee Oguzhan Cakir and VAR official Atilla Karaoglan. Speaking to broadcaster beIN Sports, the Portuguese manager said, as per BBC, “He [Karaoglan] was alert to give the two penalty decisions which the referee didn’t give and then he was having Turkish tea when it was a clear penalty for us and he didn’t give it. The man of the match was Atilla Karaoglan.”
Fenerbahce currently find themselves in the second spot in the Super Lig. Having played 17 matches so far in the competition, they have collected 39 points. Fenerbahce are eight points behind table-toppers Galatasaray.
