Mourinho takes Turkish club to European Court of Human Rights over sanctions

Fenerbahçe Istanbul coach José Mourinho is escalating his dispute with Turkish football authorities by taking the club to the European Court of Human Rights. The move comes after a series of fines and suspensions imposed on the Portuguese manager.

Mourinho's troubles began after a 3-2 victory against Trabzonspor. He publicly criticized the video assistant referee, sarcastically naming him "Man of the match" and stating he never wanted to see him in action again. At the time, Mourinho also alleged systematic disadvantages for Fenerbahçe, claiming the Turkish league "smelled bad" and offered little reason for international fans to follow it.

Further sanctions followed due to Mourinho's provocative celebrations directed at Trabzonspor supporters. The disciplinary committee initially banned him for one game and fined him approximately 11,600 euros. However, his disciplinary record in Turkey worsened.

In February 2025, Mourinho received a two-game ban and a 14,200 euro fine related to racism allegations. Just two months later, he was suspended for three games and fined 7,000 euros after an incident where he grabbed the face of Galatasaray coach Okan Buruk.

Mourinho managed Fenerbahçe from June 2024 until his dismissal in August 2025. Reports suggest he is a leading candidate to become Real Madrid's manager for a second time, with a contract reportedly signed until 2029.

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the Turkish league 'smelled bad'