Didier Drogba, a former Chelsea striker, has defended Jose Mourinho, his former boss, amid allegations of racism in Turkey.

 

On Monday, Galatasaray alleged that Mourinho made “racist statements” following the team’s goalless draw with Fenerbahce in the Turkish Super Lig.

 

In the press conference after the match, Mourinho, Fenerbahce’s manager, had said the staff and players on Galatasaray’s bench were “jumping like monkeys” in reaction to a penalty call that was not given.

 

Galatasaray accused Mourinho of “persistently” using “derogatory statements directed towards the Turkish people” since he took over at Fenerbahce.

 

The club described the manager’s statement as “unequivocally inhumane rhetoric” and threatened to “initiate criminal proceedings concerning the racist statements”.

 

In a tweet on Wednesday, Drogba, who formerly played for Galatasaray, said Mourinho “is not a racist”.

 

The 46-year-old, who Mourinho managed over his two spells at Chelsea, described his Portuguese manager as his “dad” whose history contradicts the racist claims.

 

 

“Dear Galatasaray, You know how proud I was to wear the yellow and red jersey and my love for the most decorated club in Turkey,” Drogba wrote.

 

“We all know how passionate and heated rivalries can be, and I’ve been lucky enough to experience it. I’ve seen the recent comments about Jose Mourinho.

 

“Trust me when I tell you I have known Jose for 25 years, and he is not a racist, and history (past and recent ) is there to prove it.  How can my ‘Dad’ be a racist?”

 

Mourinho was appointed Fenerbahce manager in 2024.

 

The former Chelsea manager has been consistently critical of Turkish referees since he moved to the country.