José Mourinho, never one to shy away from drama, found himself at the center of yet another controversy after Fenerbahce’s 2-1 Turkish Cup loss to arch-rivals Galatasaray. The Portuguese tactician appeared to grab the nose of Galatasaray’s head coach, Okan Buruk, in the chaotic moments following the final whistle. The incident, caught on video, sent Buruk tumbling to the ground, clutching his face in apparent shock as Mourinho was quickly pulled away.

The heated quarter-final encounter saw tempers flare throughout, culminating in three dismissals from the bench before the final act of the evening—a physical altercation that has since ignited widespread debate.

Galatasaray’s Strong Reaction to Mourinho’s Actions

Following the incident, Galatasaray’s vice-president, Metin Ozturk, condemned Mourinho’s behavior, urging Fenerbahce to take action against their own manager before the Turkish football authorities intervened.

“Mourinho first verbally and then physically attacked [Buruk] … 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,” said Ozturk.

Despite the clear provocation, Buruk attempted to downplay the confrontation in his post-match comments. “There was nothing between me and Mourinho. He pinched my nose from behind. There was a slight scratch. Of course, it wasn’t a very nice or elegant thing to do. We expect managers to behave more appropriately in such situations. I won’t exaggerate this issue, but it wasn’t a classy move,” he stated.

Galatasaray Seals Semi-Final Spot with Osimhen Brace

Amidst the chaos, Galatasaray’s footballing prowess shone through. Victor Osimhen delivered a match-winning performance, scoring twice in the first half to send his side into the semi-finals. The Nigerian striker capitalized on a defensive lapse in the 10th minute before coolly converting a penalty in the 27th after Filip Kostic’s handball was spotted by VAR.

Fenerbahce managed to halve the deficit just before the break, with Sebastian Szymanski’s goal initially ruled offside but later awarded following another VAR check. Despite a valiant second-half push from Mourinho’s men, Galatasaray held firm, boosted by a crucial save from Irfan Egribayat against Gabriel Sara.

Chaos Ensues as Players and Managers See Red

The match reached boiling point in stoppage time when Galatasaray’s Baris Alper Yilmaz, recently substituted, and Kerem Demirbay, an unused substitute, received red cards. Moments later, Mert Hakan Yandas from Fenerbahce’s bench was also given his marching orders. The drama didn’t end there, as Mourinho was shown a red card following his skirmish with Buruk.

Galatasaray wasted no time in stoking the flames post-match, taking to social media to mock their rivals. The club’s official X (formerly Twitter) account posted: “You should not attack, you should digest,” accompanied by a photo of Buruk smiling beside Mourinho.

Mourinho’s History of Touchline Clashes

This is far from the first time Mourinho has been involved in a touchline fracas. His controversial managerial career has been littered with heated confrontations, none more infamous than his 2011 clash with Barcelona’s then-assistant manager, Tito Vilanova. During the Spanish Super Cup, Mourinho poked Vilanova in the eye amid a brawl between Real Madrid and Barcelona players. He was subsequently handed a two-match ban, which was later rescinded.

The latest controversy is not Mourinho’s first run-in with Galatasaray either. In February, the Turkish club accused him of making racist remarks following a heated goalless Super Lig draw. Mourinho allegedly referred to the Galatasaray bench “jumping around like monkeys,” sparking outrage. Fenerbahce defended their manager and retaliated with legal action against Galatasaray for defaming him.

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