Jose Mourinho Handed Three-Match Ban for Nose-Pinching Incident in Derby Clash

Jose Mourinho has been handed a three-match suspension following a bizarre incident in which he pinched the nose of Galatasaray manager Okan Buruk after Fenerbahce’s 2-1 defeat in the Turkish Cup quarter-final on Wednesday, April 2. The heated Istanbul derby ended in chaos, with tempers flaring and players from both sides clashing after the final whistle....CONTINUE READING>>>

In a moment that quickly went viral, Mourinho approached Buruk from behind and appeared to pinch his nose. The Galatasaray coach, 51, then dropped to the ground, clutching his face. The incident sparked outrage from Galatasaray, who accused Mourinho of “physically attacking” their manager and even filed a criminal complaint with the Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office. That complaint was dismissed last Friday.

Despite the controversy, the Professional Football Disciplinary Board considered Buruk’s behavior during the altercation and ultimately issued Mourinho a reduced suspension. Alongside the ban, the 62-year-old Portuguese coach was fined 292,500 Turkish Lira (approximately £5,955).

The suspension means Mourinho will be absent from the sidelines for three key Super Lig fixtures against Trabzonspor, Sivasspor, and Kayserispor. Fenerbahce currently trail arch-rivals Galatasaray by six points in the league standings.

Tensions ran high after the match, with Fenerbahce accusing Buruk of theatrics, claiming he behaved “as if he had been shot.” The club further alleged that Buruk had provoked Mourinho by making “disrespectful hand gestures” during the heated confrontation.

The fallout didn’t stop with Mourinho. His assistant coach, Salvatore Foti, received a four-match ban for allegedly insulting a Galatasaray player, while Fenerbahce midfielder Mert Yandas was handed a one-match suspension after being sent off during a stoppage-time brawl.

Despite the disciplinary action, Fenerbahce have stood firmly behind Mourinho. The club’s board member Fethi Pekin told Sky Sports:
“Mourinho represents everything this club is aiming for. Ambition, courage, and a relentless desire to win. He does not take losing as an option.”
Pekin added,
“He is not here to coach 90 minutes of football. He is here to build a winning culture, and sometimes that means speaking up and standing firm in the face of provocation.”

Pekin further defended Mourinho’s actions, framing the derby as more than just a game:
“What happened in the recent derby match was not just a football rivalry. It was an orchestrated effort to provoke our bench, our squad, our players, and our manager. Mourinho responded with a fire in himself and defiance of someone who refuses to be intimidated.”

In a strong show of support, Pekin concluded:
“Let me say this very, very, very clearly, as the board of Fenerbahce, we are fully behind Jose Mourinho. 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.”

The club’s backing signals that, despite the controversy, Mourinho’s combative style and defiant attitude remain aligned with Fenerbahce’s ambitions.