José Mourinho, head coach of Fenerbahçe, has denied accusations of racism from Galatasaray, making it clear that while he may have his flaws, racism is not one of them.

The controversy erupted after Mourinho stated that Galatasaray players were "jumping like monkeys" to provoke a red card for an opponent. The Turkish club took this as a racist remark and threatened legal action. As a result, Mourinho was initially handed a four-match ban, which was later reduced to two games.

Mourinho Defends Himself

Speaking to Sky Sports, Mourinho insisted his words were misinterpreted and criticized Galatasaray’s reaction: "They weren’t very smart in the way they attacked me because they don’t know my past. They don’t know my connections with Africa, its people, its players, and charitable organizations. Instead of hurting me, it backfired on them."

The Portuguese coach received public support from former players Didier Drogba and Michael Essien, both of whom worked with him at Chelsea—and in Essien’s case, also at Real Madrid. "Everyone knows who I am as a person. Everyone knows my flaws, but this is not one of them. Quite the opposite. The most important thing is that people know the real me and that this accusation was just a poor attempt to attack me." Mourinho has since taken legal action against Galatasaray, demanding £41,000 in damages for defamation.