Turkish Football Federation Board Resigns Amid Leaked Messages Targeting Jose Mourinho

Jose Mourinho is at the center of Turkish football's latest scandal

Turkish football has been engulfed in scandal following the leak of private messages allegedly showing top football federation officials plotting to punish Fenerbahçe manager Jose Mourinho. The leaked correspondence has sparked a crisis within the Turkish Football Federation (TFF), leading to the mass resignation of Professional Football Disciplinary Board president Celal Nuri Demirtürk and the entire board of directors.

The controversy stems from Mourinho’s outspoken criticism of refereeing standards after a goalless draw with arch-rivals Galatasaray in February. In response, the TFF had issued Mourinho a four-match suspension and a £35,000 fine for what it described as “derogatory and offensive statements towards the Turkish referee” and for “accusing Turkish football of chaos and disorder with insulting and offensive statements towards both the Turkish football community and all Turkish referees.”

The former Real Madrid, Chelsea, and Manchester United boss did not hold back in his condemnation of officiating in the country, declaring Turkish referees “worse than I thought” and claiming they “smell bad.” He was further embroiled in controversy after saying Galatasaray’s bench “jumped around like monkeys” during the February match—remarks that prompted accusations of racism. Mourinho has since stated he is suing Galatasaray over those allegations.

Jose Mourinho

The scandal escalated when leaked messages revealed discussions among TFF officials implying they had "tolerated Mourinho too much" and intended to “make him pay” for his repeated criticisms. The implication that personal vendettas may have influenced disciplinary decisions has led to widespread condemnation and calls for accountability.

Fenerbahçe issued a formal statement to the Turkish Football Federation questioning the integrity of the governing body. “Our club has made an official application to the Turkish Football Federation in response to the correspondence that has been made public today and is claimed to belong to members of the Professional Football Disciplinary Board,” the club stated. “We believe that this hostile mentality, which clearly violates the principle of impartiality and is based on showdowns and revenge, has no place in Turkish Sports.”

Jose Mourinho grabbing the nose of Okan Buruk

Burak Kızılhan, the club’s general secretary, added: “If these allegations are true, not only would the impartiality of the relevant board be compromised, but the institutional reputation and public trust in the Turkish Football Federation would be seriously damaged. For individuals who serve on one of the most important boards with the duty to establish justice in Turkish football to be involved in such statements would render the concept of 'discipline' ineffective and constitute a clear attack on the principles of impartiality and equality."

The fallout comes just weeks after another heated encounter between Fenerbahçe and Galatasaray in April, where Mourinho approached Galatasaray coach Okan Buruk at full time and grabbed his nose. That incident earned him a separate three-match ban.

Amid the ongoing tension, Mourinho has hinted at a possible exit from Turkish football, expressing interest in managing Rangers or taking over a struggling Premier League club—moves that he suggested would allow him to avoid Turkish referees altogether.