Fenerbahce manager Jose Mourinho has been handed a three-match ban following an incident where he appeared to grab the nose of Galatasaray coach Okan Buruk after their Turkish Cup clash.
The altercation took place at the end of the match on Wednesday at Sukru Saracoglu Stadium, shortly after Galatasaray’s 2-1 victory.
As the two managers interacted with match officials, Mourinho approached Buruk from behind and seemed to pinch his nose.
The 51-year-old Buruk, a former Turkey international, fell to the ground, covering his face.
In addition to the ban, the Portuguese coach, who has previously managed Chelsea, Manchester United, and Tottenham, was fined 292,500 Turkish Lira (approximately $7,698.44 or Ksh 995,023).
Galatasaray accused Mourinho of “physically attacking” Buruk, while Fenerbahce retaliated by accusing Buruk of “acting as if he had been shot” and making “disrespectful hand gestures” to provoke Mourinho.
The Professional Football Disciplinary Board (PFDK) took Buruk’s actions into account when deciding Mourinho’s punishment, reducing his ban due to “provocation.”
Mourinho’s assistant, Salvatore Foti, received a four-match ban for allegedly insulting an opposing player.
During the stoppage time, a scuffle broke out between the two benches, resulting in red cards for Fenerbahce substitute Mert Yandas and Galatasaray substitutes Kerem Demirbay and Baris Yilmaz. Yandas has been handed a one-match suspension for his involvement.
Tensions between the two clubs had already been high after Galatasaray accused Mourinho of making “racist statements” following a goalless draw in February.
However, Fenerbahce confirmed on Friday that the Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office had dismissed Galatasaray’s criminal complaint against Mourinho.
