A heated confrontation unfolded between Fenerbahçe manager José Mourinho and Galatasaray head coach Okan Buruk following a dramatic Turkish Cup quarter-final clash on Wednesday night.
The match, which ended with Galatasaray securing a 2-1 victory over their fierce rivals Fenerbahçe, escalated into chaos after the final whistle when Mourinho appeared to grab Buruk’s nose in a bizarre altercation.
The incident occurred moments after the referee dismissed three players—two from Galatasaray and one from Fenerbahçe—following a stoppage-time scuffle between the benches.
Video footage captured Mourinho approaching Buruk from behind and making contact with his face, prompting the Galatasaray manager to fall to the ground, clutching his nose.
Mourinho was quickly pulled away as players and staff from both sides rushed in, adding to the post-match mayhem.
Galatasaray’s Victor Osimhen had earlier sealed the win with a first-half brace, despite a response from Fenerbahçe’s Sebastian Szymanski just before the break.
The ill-tempered encounter saw tensions boil over, culminating in Mourinho’s red card and the dramatic exchange with Buruk.
Buruk later downplayed the incident in his post-match press conference, stating, “He pinched my nose from behind. It wasn’t elegant, but I won’t exaggerate it.”
Meanwhile, Galatasaray’s vice president, Metin Ozturk, condemned Mourinho’s actions, calling for Fenerbahçe to impose sanctions and questioning the Portuguese manager’s conduct in Turkish football.
Mourinho, no stranger to controversy, has yet to comment publicly on the incident. Fenerbahçe officials have also remained silent, though the club is expected to face scrutiny from the Turkish Football Federation as authorities review the chaotic scenes.
The victory advances Galatasaray to the Turkish Cup semi-finals, while Fenerbahçe’s elimination adds further strain to Mourinho’s tenure, marked by ongoing feuds with their Istanbul rivals.
Social media erupted after the match, with Galatasaray taking a swipe at Mourinho, posting a photo of the incident captioned, “You should not attack, you should digest.”
🚨 José Mourinho and Okan Buruk tonight during Fenerbahçe vs Galatasaray in Türkiye. pic.twitter.com/jedPR5UEOl
— AMK (@AmkBreaking) April 2, 2025
