Fresh reports have emerged that the Turkish football federation chiefs have resigned following recent revelations of leaked chats involving Jose Mourinho.
Turkish football has been plunged into crisis following the leak of private messages allegedly revealing a plot by high-ranking officials to punish Jose Mourinho.
The controversy centers around the Fenerbahce manager, who was reportedly viewed as having been “tolerated too much” by the authorities.
Celal Nuri Demirturk, head of a key committee within the Turkish Football Federation (TFF), along with the entire board of directors, has stepped down in the wake of the scandal.
The resignations follow the release of communications that appear to show internal discussions aimed at disciplining Mourinho over his criticism of refereeing standards earlier in the season.
Mourinho was hit with a four-match suspension and fined £35,000 after expressing frustration over officiating in a February match against title rivals Galatasaray.
His remarks were deemed offensive and derogatory toward Turkish referees and the wider football community.
The situation escalated further when Mourinho announced legal action against Galatasaray.
The club had accused him of racism after he likened their bench’s behavior during the goalless draw to “jumping around like monkeys.”
Mourinho denied any racist intent, instead criticizing the overall level of refereeing in Turkey, saying it was worse than expected and even going so far as to claim referees “smell bad.”
The leaked messages have triggered outrage, especially from Fenerbahce. The club has issued a formal complaint to the TFF and questioned the fairness of the disciplinary board.
A club representative stated, “Our organization has officially approached the Turkish Football Federation concerning the recently disclosed correspondence, which is believed to involve members of the Professional Football Disciplinary Board. We reject any mindset driven by vengeance or bias, as it clearly contradicts the core values of fairness and neutrality in sports.”
Fenerbahce’s general secretary, Burak Kizilhan, added, “If these claims are accurate, it would not only undermine the impartiality of the disciplinary body but also seriously damage the credibility of the TFF. For those entrusted with ensuring justice in Turkish football to engage in such rhetoric would be a direct attack on the principles of equality and discipline.”
