07.04.2025 13:20
Galatasaray's head coach Okan Buruk explained the incidents he experienced with Jose Mourinho after the Fenerbahçe derby. Buruk said, "I didn't approach him specifically to tell him that I saw him talking to the referee. I just told the referees in Turkish and English, 'You officiated the match very well.' At that moment, Mourinho probably got very provoked because he was also criticizing the referees at the same time."
Galatasaray's head coach Okan Buruk spoke for the first time about the incidents he experienced with Jose Mourinho after the Fenerbahçe derby in the Turkish Cup. Okan Buruk explained what he said to the referees after the match.
Speaking to Ekol TV, Okan Buruk stated that he told the referees in Turkish and English, "You officiated the match very well." Buruk said, "I didn't approach the referee to specifically tell him after seeing him talk to Mourinho. I simply told the referees in Turkish and English, 'You officiated the match very well.' Mourinho was probably very provoked at that moment because he was also criticizing the referees at the same time," he expressed. Okan Buruk clarified that he did not say to the referees, "'Don't listen to him,'" stating, "I only said, 'You officiated the match very well' in Turkish and English."
"I WON'T ASK ANYONE"
Referring to the joyful moments captured by cameras immediately after congratulating the referees, Okan Buruk said, "I defeated our eternal rival on their own field. We are in an important championship struggle. I was happy, and I won't ask anyone how to be happy! I had no intention of provoking the opposing head coach or targeting him. I experienced that joy. They should let me decide how and what to be happy about," he stated.
Buruk, who said that the provocation came from the Fenerbahçe side, noted, "The assistant coach of the Fenerbahçe head coach cursed at us 3-4 times during the match, provoking us."
"I FELL BECAUSE I WAS IN PAIN"
Okan Buruk conveyed that he fell to the ground because he was in pain after Mourinho's intervention, saying, "If I wanted to escalate the situation, I would file a complaint and get a medical report. There is a recorded physical intervention against me. If I wanted to escalate it, I would have gone there, but I was genuinely in pain. I fell because I was in pain. Everyone knows my nose is broken since my playing days. With a broken nose, something else happens; it hurt me," he explained.
Reacting to Fenerbahçe's statement, Buruk said, "There can be no explanation for physical contact; there shouldn't be. Instead of apologizing, they are trying to muddy the waters, and I am very upset about this," he concluded. Okan Buruk finally stated that he did not tell Jose Mourinho to "f.ck off."