All members of Turkey’s professional football disciplinary committee have resigned following the leak of private WhatsApp messages in which they appeared to plot against Fenerbahçe manager José Mourinho.
The messages, which surfaced this week via Turkish outlet Ajansspor, revealed that top officials within Turkish football’s disciplinary body had expressed clear intent to take action against the outspoken Portuguese coach.
In one striking message, committee president Celal Nuri Demirtürk reportedly wrote, “We will make him pay for this next season. He has been tolerated too much.”
The leak has since sparked reactions across Turkish football, raising serious questions about the impartiality of the country’s football governance.
The disciplinary committee is responsible for enforcing discipline within the league, but the tone of the leaked conversation suggests a premeditated bias against Mourinho.
The messages are believed to relate to Mourinho’s criticism of Turkish referees following Fenerbahçe’s clash with rivals Galatasaray in February 2025.
During a fiery post-match exchange, Mourinho accused the opposing bench of behaving “like monkeys”, a comment that led Galatasaray to accuse him of racism, which he has firmly denied.
The former Chelsea and Real Madrid boss responded by announcing his intent to sue the club for defamation.
The disciplinary committee’s internal discussion appears to have been sparked by that incident. Rather than addressing it through formal processes, the leaked chat suggests they were personally offended and intended to retaliate in the upcoming season.
Fenerbahçe responded with an official club statement, condemning the conduct of the disciplinary board and demanding accountability.
“Our club has made an official application to the Turkish Football Federation in response to the correspondence that has been made public today… We believe that this hostile mentality, which clearly violates the principle of impartiality and is based on showdowns and revenge, has no place in Turkish Sports,” the statement read.
Mourinho, no stranger to controversy or conflict with football authorities, has yet to comment publicly on the resignations. But sources close to the coach suggest he feels vindicated by the revelations.
🚨 The President and entire board of Turkey’s Professional Football Disciplinary Committee have RESIGNED after leaked WhatsApp messages targeting Jose Mourinho and Fenerbahçe surfaced. 🇹🇷
🗣️ On Mourinho, they said: “We’ll make him pay next season.”
Among the leaked content:… pic.twitter.com/eakWBuCYlo
— Football Tweet ⚽ (@Football__Tweet) June 18, 2025
FKA/EB
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