LAST UPDATE | 25 Feb

GALATASARAY HAVE ACCUSED Fenerbahce manager Jose Mourinho of making “racist statements” following a 0-0 draw between the bitter Istanbul rivals.

Fenerbahce, meanwhile, have accused Galatasaray of “pathetic slander”.

It was not immediately clear what comments Galatasaray were referring to and former Real Madrid, Manchester United, Chelsea and Spurs coach Mourinho has not responded publicly to the allegation.

Speaking following Monday’s league draw at Galatasaray, the Portuguese coach reportedly said the home bench had been “jumping like monkeys”.

He also reportedly repeated his criticism of Turkish referees.

The game was refereed by Slovenia’s Slavko Vincic, said to have been appointed after a request from both clubs that a foreign official take charge of the high-profile encounter.

In its statement, Galatasaray said it would launch criminal proceedings against the 62-year-old Mourinho.

“Since the commencement of his managerial duties in Turkey, Fenerbahce manager Jose Mourinho has persistently issued derogatory statements directed towards the Turkish people,” the club said.

“Today his discourse has escalated beyond merely immoral comments into unequivocally inhumane rhetoric.

“We hereby formally declare our intention to initiate criminal proceedings concerning the racist statements made by Jose Mourinho, and shall accordingly submit official complaints to Uefa and Fifa.

“Furthermore, we shall diligently observe the stance adopted by Fenerbahce — an institution professing to uphold ‘exemplary moral values’ — in response to the reprehensible conduct exhibited by their manager.”

Fenerbahce responded with the following: “This statement has become necessary regarding a topic that has been on the agenda after the match played between our football team and Galatasaray.

“A statement made by Jose Mourinho after the match was taken completely out of context and deliberately distorted.

“As every common sense person can see and understand, these expressions, used by Jose Mourinho to describe the extreme reaction of the opposing team’s technical staff to the referee’s decisions during the match, can in no way be associated with racism.

“Trying to portray this discourse as racist is a completely malevolent approach. We would like to inform the public that we will exercise our legal rights regarding this pathetic slander that aims to take the competition out of the field, change the agenda and manipulate it.”

Mourinho was also defended by Fenerbahce vice-president Acun Ilicali, who told Sky Sports News: “Jose Mourinho is just describing the emotion of the bench by using the word monkey, that’s all.

“When I say you are running like a rabbit, I don’t say that you are a rabbit. So when I say you are jumping like a monkey, it doesn’t mean you are a monkey.

“You can clearly understand that Jose Mourinho had no intention to be racist, in the words or behind the words or around the words.

“As a club I can clearly say that we are behind our coach, we are supporting him 100%.”