Fenerbahce manager Jose Mourinho was booked by a referee he had called “top-level” after his side had a goal disallowed during the first half of the Istanbul derby on Monday.
Slovenian referee Slavko Vincic, who officiated last season’s Champions League final, approached the technical areas to caution Mourinho and Galatasaray boss Okan Buruk in the 34th minute.
While the exact nature of the coaches’ offences was not clear, Super Lig leaders Galatasaray had appealed for a penalty seconds earlier when on-loan Napoli striker Victor Osimhen – previously accused of “diving too much” by Mourinho – went down in the box.
Osimhen had been contesting a cross with defenders Milan Skriniar and Yusuf Akcicek, and the 2023 Serie A Player of the Year was booked four minutes later for a challenge on goalkeeper Irfan Can Egribayat.
Galatasaray vs Fenerbahce referee
Vincic denied second-placed Fenerbahce the opening goal in the 14th minute after forward Oguz Aydın struck from inside the penalty area.
The 45-year-old referee decided that visiting winger Sebastian Szymanski had fouled goalkeeper Fernando Muslera as Filip Kostic’s cross from the left entered the box.
Speaking before one of the most atmospheric games in world football between two fierce rivals, Mourinho said he was “happy” with Vincic’s appointment, calling him a “top-level referee”.
A frequent critic of refereeing in Turkiye since his appointment by Fenerbahce last June, Mourinho added that Vincic’s involvement was “important for credibility”.
“Although it may not seem like it sometimes, I am a person who wants fair play,” the Portuguese pointed out. “We want to win, they want to win. I hope it will be a big match.”
Galatasaray vs Fenerbahce latest
Neither side had an attempt on target during a keenly-contested first half, with Galatasaray having 59% of possession but Fenerbahce producing four of the five efforts at goal between the teams.
With no other team realistically in title contention, Fenerbahce started the evening six points behind their opponents with a one-goal superiority.
Galatasaray were unbeaten in their preceding 24 league games this season, while Fenerbahce had lost twice, including a 3-1 home defeat in the fixture on September 21.