Fenerbahce have launched a blistering attack on Galatasaray head coach Okan Buruk, accusing him of theatrics following a heated confrontation with Jose Mourinho in Wednesday’s Turkish Cup derby.
In a statement released after Galatasaray’s 2-1 victory, Fenerbahce claimed Buruk behaved “as if he had been shot” when Mourinho allegedly grabbed his nose during post-match chaos.
The clash unfolded at the final whistle, with both managers engaging with match officials in the centre circle. Mourinho, recently appointed Fenerbahce boss, was filmed touching Buruk’s face, prompting the Galatasaray coach to fall to the ground, drawing police and stewards into the fray.
Fenerbahce described Buruk’s reaction as “planned provocation,” stating:
“This individual acted as if he had been shot and fell to the ground in a professional manner… This absurd behaviour is clearly visible in video footage.”
The club continued by mocking Buruk’s playing days, saying his tendency to go to ground “has carried over into his coaching career.”
Buruk, however, attempted to de-escalate matters in his post-match press conference, calling the incident “nothing,” though Galatasaray later stirred controversy by posting a video mocking Mourinho in the style of the cartoon South Park.
The fiery atmosphere also saw three players sent off — Fenerbahce’s Mert Yandas and Galatasaray’s Kerem Demirbay and Baris Yilmaz — after a melee broke out between the benches during stoppage time.
This latest drama adds to a growing list of controversies between the two Turkish giants. In February, Galatasaray accused Mourinho of making racist remarks after a league match, leading to a four-game suspension and a fine of £35,000. Mourinho responded by filing a lawsuit against the club for defamation.
With tensions between the Istanbul clubs at boiling point, the fallout from Wednesday’s derby is unlikely to end soon — especially with both managers now firmly entrenched in a war of words and gestures.
