Fenerbahce’s boss Jose Mourinho spoke publicly for the first time since he was accused of having made racist comments from Rivals Galatasaray.
After the 0-0 draw last week in the Istanbul derby, Mourinho struck the Galatasaray bench to jump like apes “when it is attractive for the decisions of referee at the start of the game.
He also said it was better than the match was not officiated by a Turkish referee.
After Galatasaray accused him of racism, Mourinho was hit by a ban on four games and a fine of £ 35,000, which was then reduced to two games and £ 12,200 fine on appeal.
But Mourinho insisted that his remarks were not racist, and believes that the complaints of Galatasaray actually returned against them after having received the support of some of his former players, including Didier Drogba and Michael Essien.
Speaking of the allegations of Galatasaray, Mourinho told Sky Sports: “They were not intelligent in the way they attacked me because they did not know my past.
Jose Mourinho broke his silence after being accused of racism by Galatasaray
Jose Mourinho said that the Galatasaray bench “ jumped like “ monkeys in the Istanbul derby last week
Mourinho defended his use of language and accused Galatasaray of having lowered “so low”
“They did not know my links with Africa, with Africans and African players and African charitable organizations. So, instead of going against me, I think he has Boomerang and opposed them.
“Everyone knows who I am as a person. Everyone knows my bad qualities, but this is not one of my bad qualities. Exactly the opposite! The most important thing is that I know who I am, and the attack accusing racism was a bad choice.
Mourinho also revealed his immediate reaction to the accusation of racism when he criticized Galatasaray for cutting himself “ so low ”, while denying that he had been clumsy with his use of language.
“I just felt: how could they go so low?” He continued.
Mourinho added: “I cannot fall to his level”, referring to the puffs of the manager of Galatasaray Okan Buruk.
“Sometimes I do it, and I wonder:” Why did you do it Jose? Why did you fall at this level? “It was just sad.
The former boss of Chelsea, Manchester United and Tottenham continued to express his gratitude to those who got up for him and said that he even had the support of people who do not like him.
“Probably even by people who don’t like me, support was there,” said Mourinho.
“I thank people who had no problem talking (on), especially my boys, my former players. It was a very important voice.
The row of racism between Mourinho and Galatasaray remains in progress, Fenerbahce announcing last Friday that they filed a complaint against their title rivals after launching their support behind their manager.