Former Chelsea and Real Madrid manager Jose Mourinho has finally spoken out after his controversial ban in Turkey, Soccernet.ng<\/a> reports.\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n The Portuguese gaffer was labeled a racist following his post match comment after Fenerbahce clash with their fierce Turkey rival Galatasaray SK.<\/p>\n Mourinho\u2019s controversial remark about Galatasaray players diving \u201clike a monkey.\u201d<\/a> and comments about Turkish referees resulted to a four match ban on the sideline.<\/p>\n READ MORE:<\/strong><\/p>\n Meanwhile, Mourinho has dismissed racism allegations against him while expressing gratitude to former African players like Didier Drogba and John Obi Mikel for their support.<\/p>\n The Portuguese tactician, who recently faced accusations that led to his suspension, described the claims as a weak attempt to tarnish his image. Also, he insisted that racism is not one of his flaws.<\/p>\n \u201cI was calm, I was relaxed, I was not hurt,\u201d Mourinho told Sky Sports<\/a>. \u201cI just felt, how could they go so low? But it was not a problem for me. The next day, when I started analyzing the scenes, the support was there because everybody knows who I am.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n The Fenerbahce boss weighed in on his deep ties to Africa, which he believes discredit any attempts to label him a racist.<\/p>\n He added: \u201cThey were not clever in the way they attacked me because they don\u2019t know my connections with Africa, with African people, with African players, with African charities. They have no idea of my past. Instead of going against me, I think it boomeranged and went against them.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n Mourinho reserved special praise for Drogba, Mikel, and other African players who publicly defended him amid the controversy.<\/p>\n \u201cThey were not clever in the way they attacked me\u201d<\/p>\n Jose Mourinho speaks for the first time about the racism claims made against him by Galatasaray. pic.twitter.com\/4xRfuL5wRO<\/a><\/p>\n \u2014 Sky Sports News (@SkySportsNews) March 6, 2025<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n \u201cI have only to thank the people who didn\u2019t have a problem speaking, especially my boys, my former African players. They were a very important voice.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n Both Drogba and Mikel had earlier come to Mourinho\u2019s defence, dismissing the racism allegations as baseless. The Chelsea legend, Drogba, stated, \u201cHow can my \u2018Dad\u2019 be a racist? Come on, guys.\u201d<\/em> Similarly, Mikel said<\/a>, \u201cFor them to label our African dad a racist, for me, that\u2019s a f**ing joke.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n With the scandal seemingly behind him, Mourinho remains focused on his managerial career, while his legacy among African footballers continues to speak for itself.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n\n
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