Jose Mourinho Slams Turkish Refereeing After Dramatic Win

Jose Mourinho criticized the refereeing standards in Turkey after his Fenerbahce team secured a dramatic 3-2 victory against Trabzonspor with a last-minute winner from Sofyan Amrabat. Following the match, Mourinho expressed his frustration over the two penalties awarded to Trabzonspor after video assistant referee (VAR) reviews, arguing that Fenerbahce should have received a penalty as well before Amrabat’s decisive goal.

In an interview with beIN Sports, Jose Mourinho directed his ire towards referee Oguzhan Cakir and VAR official Atilla Karaoglan, questioning why he accepted the managerial role at Fenerbahce. He claimed that he was only told half the truth about the club, stating, “If they told me the whole truth, I wouldn’t come.”

Mourinho labeled Karaoglan the “man of the match,” criticizing the VAR official for failing to call a clear penalty for Fenerbahce while promptly approving Trabzonspor’s penalties. He stated, “We don’t want him as a VAR. We don’t want him on the pitch but, on the VAR, even less.”

Fenerbahce’s win propelled them to second place in the Turkish Super Lig, trailing leaders Galatasaray by five points. In response, Trabzonspor’s coach, Senol Gunes dismissed Mourinho’s comments, stating he preferred not to engage in discussions about penalties and decisions.

Gunes pointed out that the focus should be on the game’s outcomes rather than the noise surrounding officiating. The match showcased ongoing tensions surrounding officiating in Turkish football which has faced scrutiny following several incidents in the previous season including physical confrontations involving referees and club officials.