José Mourinho celebrated his Fenerbahce team’s dramatic 3-2 victory over Trabzonspor with an attempted knee slide on the pitch, marking a thrilling conclusion to the match. The winning goal, scored by Sofyan Amrabat in the 102nd minute, capped off a game filled with tension and controversy.
Mourinho expressed his frustration regarding the officiating standards in Turkey, particularly criticizing referee Oguzhan Cakir and VAR official Atilla Karaoglan. He was notably displeased with Trabzonspor being awarded two penalties after VAR reviews, insisting that Fenerbahce should have received a penalty of their own prior to Amrabat’s late winner.
“I blame the Fenerbahce people that brought me here. They told me only half of the truth,” Mourinho stated during his interview with beIN Sports. He continued, “But, with half of the truth and my boys, we fight opponents and the system.”
Mourinho highlighted a specific incident where he felt a clear penalty was overlooked:
“He [Karaoglan] was alert to give the two penalty decisions which the referee didn’t give and then he was having Turkish tea when it was a clear penalty for us.”
Following this victory, Fenerbahce advanced to second place in the Turkish top flight, now just five points behind leaders Galatasaray. Reflecting on the officiating, Mourinho quipped:
“The man of the match was Atilla Karaoglan… We don’t want him as a VAR. We don’t want him on the pitch but, on the VAR, even less.”
His candid remarks have sparked discussion among fans and analysts alike regarding referee performance in crucial matches.
Mourinho’s tenure at Fenerbahce began in June, and while he seems determined to lead his team effectively, his passionate outbursts highlight the challenges he faces in navigating both opponents and officiating standards within Turkish football.
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