Fenerbahce have defended their manager Jose Mourinho over his clash with Galatasaray, coach Okan Buruk in the Turkish Cup on Wednesday evening.
Mourinho faces suspension after he grabbed Buruk by the nose following Fenerbahce’s 2-1 defeat at home to Galatasaray.
Buruk fell to the floor after being touched by Mourinho.
Mourinho was then pulled away from the situation by a member of his coaching staff.
The Portuguese was unable to address the incident after the match as he was prevented from speaking to reporters at the post-match press conference after he was given a red card.
However, Fenerbahce have now released a statement regarding the issue as they defended their manager.
A statement from Fenerbahce on Thursday read: “This is our statement regarding Okan Buruk, who approached our manager Jose Mourinho, who was meeting with the referees after the match yesterday, under the pretext of shaking their hands, provoked our manager with hand gestures and statements, and had the audacity to make disrespectful hand gestures after crossing the police line.
“After our manager momentarily touched his nose in response to these provocations, the person in question threw himself to the ground in an exaggerated manner.
“The disrespectful words and actions of this person, who professionally threw himself to the ground as if he had been “shot”; as a continuation of his planned and excessive provocations, are recorded with images.”
Meanwhile, Buruk has since reacted to the incident.
