Fenerbahce manager Jose Mourinho has been handed a three-match ban and fined approximately £6,000 ($7,734) by the Turkish Football Federation (TFF) following a controversial clash with Galatasaray coach Okan Buruk during a heated Istanbul derby.
The incident occurred after Fenerbahce’s 2-1 defeat to Galatasaray in the Turkish Cup quarter-finals on Wednesday. Tensions flared at the final whistle, culminating in a mass scuffle involving players and staff. Amid the chaos, Mourinho, 62, appeared to grab Buruk’s nose — an action that saw the Galatasaray manager theatrically fall to the ground, drawing widespread attention and criticism.
“The coach shall be banned from entering the dressing room and the bench for three official matches,” the TFF announced in a statement on Saturday. The punishment also includes a financial penalty for Mourinho’s unsporting behavior.
As a result, the Portuguese manager will be absent from Fenerbahce’s upcoming matches against Trabzonspor, Sivasspor, and Kayserispor — a crucial trio of fixtures as the club continues to chase the Super Lig title.
Fenerbahce currently sit second in the table, six points behind league leaders Galatasaray, but with a game in hand. The ban could prove costly in their pursuit of the title, especially given the high stakes and intensity of the run-in.
The derby, already notorious for its fierce rivalry, was marred by the on-field melee that saw three players sent off — two from Galatasaray — before the dramatic post-match encounter between the managers stole headlines.
Mourinho, known for his fiery temperament and polarizing persona, has yet to publicly comment on the incident or the suspension.
