Fenerbahce manager Jose Mourinho has officially filed a lawsuit against Galatasaray, claiming that the Turkish club has defamed him with accusations of racism.

The legal move follows a heated Istanbul derby that ended in a 0-0 draw between both clubs. During the derby, Mourinho made controversial post-match comments that sparked a major backlash.

Following the fiery encounter, Mourinho made statements about Galatasaray players and staff, saying they were "jumping like monkeys" after the match.

The Portuguese manager’s remarks quickly led to accusations of racism from Galatasaray, who condemned the comments and vowed to take the matter further to higher authorities.

Jose Mourinho is seeking 1,907,000 Turkish Lira from Galatasaray for "moral damages" - the equivalent of around £41,500 - a symbolic amount which references 1907, the year Fenerbahce were founded. pic.twitter.com/mNFE3gmOtV

— Sky Sports Football (@SkyFootball) February 28, 2025

We are with you Jose Mourinho! 💛💙 pic.twitter.com/Rn7R8teHSr

— Fenerbahçe SK (@Fenerbahce) February 28, 2025

The Turkish Football Federation (TFF) wasted no time in responding, handing Mourinho a four-match ban and a £35,218 fine for his conduct.

However, Galatasaray believes this punishment is insufficient and has threatened to escalate the matter to FIFA and UEFA, calling for stricter measures against the Portuguese manager.

Fenerbahce and Mourinho fight back

Despite the punishment from the TFF, Fenerbahce and Mourinho have denied any racist intent behind the comments and have filed a lawsuit against Galatasaray, Sky Sports reports.

Jose Mourinho is seeking 1,907,000 Turkish Lira from Galatasaray for "moral damages" - the equivalent of around £41,500 - a symbolic amount which references 1907, the year Fenerbahce were founded. pic.twitter.com/mNFE3gmOtV

— Sky Sports Football (@SkyFootball) February 28, 2025

On Friday, Fenerbahce released a statement announcing that their legal team had initiated a defamation lawsuit against Galatasaray, demanding financial compensation.

The club’s statement read:

“We would like to announce to the public that a lawsuit for moral damages of 1 million 907 thousand Turkish liras has been filed against Galatasaray Sports Club by Fenerbahçe Sports Club lawyers due to the attack on the personal rights of our Technical Director Jose Mourinho.”

This legal battle adds another layer to the already intense rivalry between Turkey’s two biggest clubs, who are currently battling for the Super Lig title.

Title race heats up as Mourinho’s team trails

The ongoing controversy comes at a critical time in the Turkish Super Lig, where Fenerbahce currently sits six points behind league leaders Galatasaray after 24 matches, Livescore reports.

With just months left in the season, Mourinho’s men will need to stay focused if they hope to close the gap and reclaim the title.

Fenerbahce’s next challenge will be against Antalyaspor on Sunday, March 2, as they look to bounce back from the off-field distractions and keep their title hopes alive.