Ivorian football legend Didier Drogba has come to the defense of his former Chelsea manager, Jose Mourinho, following allegations of racist remarks made by the Fenerbahce boss in the wake of a fiery Turkish Super Lig showdown against Galatasaray.
Mourinho, known for his outspoken nature, has been vocal about the standard of officiating since taking charge of Fenerbahce earlier this year. His comments have stirred controversy, leading to a decision to assign Slovenian referee Slavko Vincic for Monday’s much-anticipated clash between league leaders Galatasaray and second-placed Fenerbahce. The encounter ended in a goalless stalemate, but post-match tensions have dominated headlines.
While the exact statements that sparked Galatasaray’s outrage remain unclear, Mourinho expressed his dissatisfaction with officiating during his post-match press conference.
“I went to the referee’s dressing room after the game. The fourth official was there—a Turkish referee. I told him if you are the referee, it would be a disaster,” Mourinho remarked.
He also suggested that Galatasaray should advocate for the consistent appointment of foreign referees if they truly believed in their own quality.
“But when the referees are foreign, UEFA Cup—go home. Against us at home—one shot on target. But if they are good and they believe really in themselves and in their power, they should ask the federation,” he added.
Mourinho further criticized Galatasaray’s coaching staff, claiming they were overly theatrical in their protests.
Galatasaray swiftly issued a strong-worded statement condemning Mourinho’s remarks and accusing him of targeting the Turkish people with derogatory language since his arrival in the league.
“Since the commencement of his managerial duties in Turkey, Fenerbahce manager Jose Mourinho has persistently issued derogatory statements directed towards the Turkish people,” the club stated.
“Today, his discourse has escalated beyond merely immoral comments into unequivocally inhumane rhetoric. We hereby formally declare our intention to initiate criminal proceedings concerning the racist statements made by Jose Mourinho and shall accordingly submit official complaints to UEFA and FIFA.”
Additionally, Galatasaray board member Can Natan labeled Mourinho’s comments as offensive, stating they exhibited “a troubling pattern that crosses the borders of racist behavior.”
Fenerbahce, however, dismissed the accusations, insisting Mourinho’s remarks were deliberately misinterpreted.
“A statement made by our technical director Jose Mourinho after the match was completely taken out of context, and an attempt was made to deliberately distort it,” the club responded.
“Trying to portray this statement as racist is a completely malicious approach.”
Amid the escalating controversy, Drogba, who played under Mourinho at Chelsea and also spent time at Galatasaray, voiced his support for the Portuguese tactician.
“Trust me when I tell you I have known Jose for xx years, and he is not a racist, and history (past and recent) is there to prove it,” the 46-year-old wrote on X.
“How can my ‘Dad’ be a racist? Come on, guys,” he concluded.
Dear @GalatasaraySK
You know how proud I was to wear the yellow and red jersey and my love for the most decorated club in Turkey!!
We all know how passionate and heated rivalries can be, and I’ve been lucky enough to experience it.
Ive seen the recent comments about Jose…
— Didier Drogba (@didierdrogba) February 26, 2025
The saga continues to unfold as Galatasaray pursues legal action while Fenerbahce and Mourinho stand firm in their defense, fueling an already intense rivalry in Turkish football.