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Fenerbahce’s 2-0 victory against Antalyaspor on Sept. 29 wasn’t without controversy, as manager Jose Mourinho's protest of a disallowed goal grabbed headlines globally.
The disallowed goal, attributed to an offside call against Edin Dzeko, prompted Mourinho to make an unusual protest that has since captured the attention of the international media.
Jose Mourinho, known for his eccentric methods, took his frustration to a new level during the match by using a laptop to display footage of Dzeko’s disallowed goal to the cameras.
Following the VAR decision to call off the goal, Mourinho displayed the offside footage in front of the broadcast cameras, visibly angered by what he saw as an incorrect decision. "For us, it’s a good goal," Mourinho said after the match, adding: “I just want a VAR that helps the referee to make the right decisions.”
His actions didn’t go unnoticed. Mourinho received a yellow card for his behavior, but the incident was quickly picked up by media outlets across Europe.
The Daily Mail described Fenerbahce coach Mourinho’s actions as “a unique protest,” while Blick in Switzerland emphasized: “Mourinho never fails to surprise with his behavior.” Similarly, Italian media labeled his protest “another example of his unconventional approach to handling conflict.”
Beyond Mourinho’s headline-making protest, Fenerbahce is officially taking action against the officiating during the match. The club has prepared a detailed complaint to submit to the Turkish Football Federation (TFF), which highlights five key moments they believe were mishandled by both the match referee, Cihan Aydin, and the VAR official, Alper Cetin.
Fenerbahce’s Vice President Acun Ilicali voiced the club’s frustration, saying, "We trust the good intentions of our federation, but the oddities on the pitch cannot be ignored. We will share video evidence with them and expect the necessary review." Ilicali emphasized that the club plans to release an official statement within two days.
Mourinho's frustration with the VAR system in Türkiye has added fuel to Fenerbahce’s long-standing concerns about biased refereeing. Fenerbahce currently stands second in the Super Lig, three points behind Galatasaray, but issues surrounding the officiating continue to cloud their progress.
As the European campaign looms, Fenerbahce must also manage these internal frustrations while balancing their league ambitions.
With Mourinho’s protest attracting global media attention, the club will be under scrutiny both domestically and internationally, ensuring that every decision on and off the field will be closely watched in the coming weeks.
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