Galatasaray accused Fenerbahce manager Mourinho of making “racist statements”following the goalless draw between the Turkish Super Lig rivals on Monday.
Speaking after the clash, Mourinho said the home bench had been “jumping like monkeys”.
But, former Galatasaray striker who made 53 appearances and scared 20 goals, Didier Drogba has offered support of Mourinho, who was his boss during two spells at Chelsea.
“You know how proud I was to wear the yellow and red jersey and my love for the most decorated club in Turkey!!,” the former Ivory Coast striker posted on X.
“We all know how passionate and heated rivalries can be, and I’ve been lucky enough to experience it.
“I’ve seen the recent comments about Jose Mourinho. Trust me when I tell you I have known Jose for 25 years and he is not a racist and history [past and recent] is there to prove it.
“How can my “Dad” be a racist. Come on guys.”
After leaving Roma, Mourinho, a former manager of Chelsea, Manchester United, and Real Madrid, took over Fenerbahce in June 2024.
Mourinho’s Criticism
He frequently criticised Turkish referees before the Galatasaray match, claiming that using a Turkish official would have been a “disaster.” Both teams asked a foreign official to oversee the match, and Slovenian Slavko Vincic served as the referee.
According to people close to Mourinho, the accusations have infuriated him, and he is considering his legal options. They claim that throughout his career, he has collaborated closely with numerous black athletes and that none of them would suspect him of having racist beliefs.
“Jose Mourinho’s systematic derogatory comments about the Turkish Super Lig, Turkish referees and the Turkish nation since his employment in Turkey are increasingly concerning,” said Galatasaray board member Can Natan.
“His recent remarks following the derby match between Galatasaray and Fenerbahce, in which he stated that Galatasaray’s bench was “jumping like monkeys”, are not only insulting but also illustrate a troubling pattern that crosses the borders of racist behavior.
