In the Europa League clash between Fenerbahce and Manchester United, coach Jose Mourinho received a red card for demanding a penalty for his team. After the match, he continued to criticize the referee during the press conference.
The incident occurred in the 56th minute when Fenerbahce’s defender Bright Osayi-Samuel was challenged by a MU player in the penalty area. Despite protests from the Fenerbahce players and coaching staff, referee Clement Turpin did not award a penalty, and VAR also did not intervene.
Mourinho reacted angrily on the sidelines and was subsequently sent off after arguing with the assistant referees. He was forced to sit in the stands near the team’s technical area, continuing to direct the game through notes for his assistant.
In the press conference, Mourinho stated: “The referee told me unbelievable things. He said he could watch both the incident in the box and my actions on the sidelines. I congratulate him on such incredible vision.”
Mourinho also mentioned that he would leave Fenerbahce to find a club not participating in UEFA competitions. “If any team in England at the bottom of the table needs a coach in the next two years, I am ready to leave,” he added.
Receiving a red card is not a new occurrence for Mourinho in his coaching career. Since taking over Fenerbahce, he has received multiple yellow and red cards for his reactions to referees.
In addition to criticizing the referee, Mourinho also commented on MU, suggesting that the British media only focused on the fact that the team lacked their strongest players, ignoring the fact that Fenerbahce was also missing four players due to injuries. He felt his team played impressively and could not demand more.
Mourinho emphasized, “Man United got one point against us, not the other way around. If we played like this in the Turkish league, we would destroy every opponent.”
The 1-1 draw did not help either Fenerbahce or MU improve their standings in the group. After three matches, both teams must participate in the playoff round to compete for a place in the Round of 16.