Jose Mourinho clears the air over racism allegations

The manager of Fernabache Jose Mourinho has for the first time spoken about the racial allegations by Galatasaray following the comments he made after the game between both sides.

Jose Mourinho said during his post-match press conference that the Galatasaray bench for 'jumping like monkeys when appealing for refereeing decisions early on in the game. This statement did not go well with the Turkish side which saw them file a racial petition against the Portuguese international.

Mourinho while speaking in an interview with Sky Sports insisted his comments were not racist, and believes Galatasaray's complaints have actually backfired against them after he received support from some of his former players including Didier Drogba and Michael Essien.

He said,

They were not clever in the way they attacked me, because they didn't know my past. They didn't know my connections with Africa, with African people and African players and African charities. So instead of going against me, I think it boomeranged and went against them.Everyone knows who I am as a person. Everybody knows my bad qualities, but that is not one of my bad qualities. Exactly the opposite! The most important thing is I know who I am, and the attack accusing racism was a bad choice.''

Jose continued,

I just felt, how could they go so low? I cannot drop to his level,( referring to Galatasaray manager Okan Buruk's touchline antics) Sometimes I do, and I ask myself, "Why did you do it Jose? Why did you drop to that level?" It was just sad.''

He ended his interview by thanking everyone who supported him during this period.

"I thank the people who didn't have a problem to speak [out], especially my boys, my former players. They were a very important voice.''

Mourinho was hit with a four-game touchline ban and a £35,000 fine, which was subsequently reduced to two matches and £12,200 fine upon.

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