JOSE MOURINHO has been hit with a four-match ban amid his racism row with Galatasaray.
The Fenerbahce boss was accused by his Turkish rivals of making “racist statements” after Monday’s Istanbul derby, which ended 0-0.
Former Chelsea, Manchester United and Tottenham boss Mourinho claimed after the stalemate that Galatasaray had tried to get one of his team booked early on.
He told a press conference that “everyone on the opposing bench was jumping around like monkeys.”
Galatasaray immediately hit back and accused the Portuguese manager, 62, of “regularly using derogatory words towards the Turkish people” since moving to Istanbul.
Fenerbahce responded by accusing Galatasaray of “pathetic slander.”
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However, the Turkish Football Federation have now announced that the Special One will serve a lengthy suspension as a result of his actions after the game.
A statement said that Mourinho’s post-match press conference comments about Galatasaray “contained expressions that could encourage violence and disorder in sport, were divisive and separatist in society, and could cause fan incidents.”
Slovenian Slavko Vincic was drafted in especially to referee the fiery derby clash, after Mourinho accused Turkish officials of giving favourable decisions to Galatasaray.
Mourinho was criticised for going into the referees’ dressing room after the game – and openly criticising the quality of Turkish refereeing.
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That led to a second charge for directing “derogatory and offensive statements towards the Turkish fourth official” at full-time.
The statement also claimed he made “insulting and offensive statements towards both the Turkish football community and all Turkish referees.”
Mourinho received a two-game ban for each of the charges, as well as a total fine of £35,000.
He will miss the next four league games against Antalyaspor, Samsunspor, Bodrum and Trabzonspor.
But Mourinho will be in the dugout for Fenerbahce’s Europa League last-16 ties against Rangers next month.
The Portuguese boss took charge of his Turkish club in June and they currently sit second in the Super Lig, six points off champions Galatasaray.
In the aftermath of their racism accusation, Mourinho was defended by several former players including Didier Drogba.
The Chelsea legend spent two years at Galatasaray from 2012 to 2014 and is considered a cult icon by their fans.
But Drogba backed his former Blues boss in the row, saying: “Dear@GalatasaraySK. You know how proud I was to wear the yellow and red jersey and my love for the most decorated club in Turkey!!
“We all know how passionate and heated rivalries can be, and I’ve been lucky enough to experience it.
“I’ve seen the recent comments about Jose Mourinho. Trust me when I tell you I have known Jose for xx years and he is not a racist and history (past and recent ) is there to prove it.
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“Let’s focus on our games, support our brilliant lions and let’s win the league to get close to our 5.
“How can my “Dad” be a racist? Come on guys.”
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
