Soccer-Mourinho files European human rights complaint over Turkish fine and ban
Jose Mourinho Challenges Turkish Football Federation Sanctions at European Court
June 4 (Reuters) - Jose Mourinho has filed a complaint at the European Court of Human Rights over disciplinary sanctions he received while coaching Turkish club Fenerbahce.
The Strasbourg-based court has accepted the application from the Portuguese coach, says a notice on its website on June 1, and has requested observations from the Turkish government.
Details of the Sanctions Imposed on Mourinho
Mourinho is challenging a 600,000 Turkish lira ($13,074.74) fine plus a one-match ban from the dressing room and bench area imposed by the Turkish Football Federation (TFF) after a 3-2 Super Lig win at Trabzonspor on November 3, 2024.
The federation penalised Mourinho for unsportsmanlike conduct towards rival fans during the match, and for subsequent press comments criticising refereeing standards.
Controversial Match Incidents and Mourinho's Response
Trabzonspor were awarded two penalties in the second half after VAR interventions and, with the score at 2-2, Mourinho was incensed when a challenge on one of his players went unpunished.
Mourinho suggested VAR official Atilla Karaoglan had missed the incident, adding that the Turkish league "smells bad" and international fans had no reason to watch the league.
Turkish Football Federation's Justification
Turkish soccer's governing body said Mourinho's remarks were "intended to damage the reputation of the TFF, to lower the value of Turkish football, to overshadow or discredit the impartiality of referees and other competition officials".
Mourinho's Legal Arguments at the European Court
In his appeal, Mourinho argues that his right to a fair trial was breached because the TFF's disciplinary and arbitration committees lack independence from the football federation's president and board of directors.
The 63-year-old also alleges that his right to a reasoned decision was violated because the federation failed to notify him of the formal reasoning behind its verdict.
And he argues the penalties went against his right to free speech, punishing him for speaking his mind about the referees.
European Court's Response and Next Steps
The ECHR has asked the Turkish authorities to address whether the football panels provided an independent and impartial tribunal, and if they properly balanced Mourinho’s right to free speech against the sports federation's interests.
Mourinho's Career Developments
After parting ways with Fenerbahce following their Champions League playoff defeat in August, Mourinho joined Portuguese giants Benfica but has been linked with a return to Real Madrid.
Additional Information
($1 = 45.9699 liras)
(Reporting by Tommy Lund in Gdansk; Editing by Ken Ferris)
