José Mourinho has lodged a formal complaint with the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) against Türkiye, contesting the disciplinary actions taken by the Turkish football federation during his tenure as coach of Fenerbahce.
The complaint, submitted in March 2025 while Mourinho was still at the helm of Fenerbahce, was publicized earlier this week. It asserts that Mourinho’s right to freedom of expression was violated when he received a one-match suspension and was fined 900,000 Turkish lira (approximately $26,200) by the Turkish Football Federation (TFF) in November 2024 for questioning the neutrality of referees and other officiating staff.
Additionally, Mourinho faced a fine of 58,500 lira for unsportsmanlike behavior towards rival fans. In his submission to the European court, the 63-year-old contends that the sanctions imposed by the TFF’s Disciplinary Committee and Arbitration Committee were not decided by an unbiased and independent tribunal.
Mourinho also claimed that the Arbitration Committee’s failure to provide a detailed reasoning for their decision infringed upon his right to access the courts.
Mourinho’s tenure in Türkiye lasted just over 450 days, beginning at the start of the 2024-25 season.
His time with Fenerbahce was marked by turmoil, as the seasoned coach, whose career includes stints at Chelsea, Manchester United, and Real Madrid, often found himself embroiled in controversy with the Turkish football authorities.
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The outspoken coach accused the authorities of “the system” of conspiring against him, suggesting that both the Turkish football officials and Süper Lig referees were working against him.
Mourinho was dismissed by Fenerbahce in August 2025, just two matches into the Super Lig season.
Shortly after leaving Fenerbahce, Mourinho joined Benfica three weeks later and is poised to return to guide Real Madrid if Florentino Pérez secures victory in the upcoming presidential elections on Sunday.