Fenerbahce head coach Jose Mourinho is set to serve a three-match ban. That follows a shocking bust-up with Galatasaray manager Okan Buruk during a recent Turkish Cup clash. The incident came at the close of a frustrating 2-1 loss for Fenerbahce at the hands of their arch-rivals Galatasaray. The situation became tense almost instantly. Buruk ended up on the backfoot as Mourinho was dragged from the scene.
The Turkish Football Federation (TFF) has imposed the ban due to Mourinho’s unsportsmanlike behavior, specifically for grabbing Buruk’s face during the altercation. Along with the three-match suspension, Mourinho has been fined around £6,000. As disciplinary action, this gamble now makes him unavailable for important matches in the title race against Trabzonspor, Sivasspor and Kayserispor.
Fenerbahce is six points back of Galatasaray atop the table in the Turkish Super Lig. With a game in hand, the club decided to keep faith in Mourinho, hiring him for his tactical nous and to take their aspirations up a notch. Fethi Pekin, a board member of Turkish club Fenerbahce, expressed extreme enthusiasm for Mourinho in response to the incident. Pekin was clear that the club hadn’t brought on Mourinho to play by the rules or follow the path, but specifically to upend it.
“We did not hire Mourinho to adapt to this system. We hired him to raise the bar. And raising the bar makes people uncomfortable. That is fine. We are not here to play by old rules.” – Fethi Pekin, Fenerbahce board member
Mourinho certainly means to leave a mark on Turkish football. After suffering this most recent disappointment, he returned with even greater passion and outrage. His commitment to challenging established practices has resonated with the club’s leadership, who believe that such an attitude is essential for Fenerbahce’s growth.
Following the game, Galatasaray went to Twitter. They taunted Mourinho, stoking the fires of a heated rivalry between the two clubs. Fenerbahce, meanwhile, continue to prepare for their upcoming matches minus a full-time head coach. Despite the adversity, the team is committed to working through this unprecedented time and catching up with their competition.
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