Acun Ilıcalı gives a sharp response to Eray Yazgan's 'racism' claim regarding Mourinho: 'Don't treat anyone like a fool!'

The highly anticipated Galatasaray - Fenerbahçe derby in the Super Lig ended in a goalless draw. With this result, the league leader Galatasaray maintained its 6-point lead over its closest rival, Fenerbahçe. After the match, the comments made by the Yellow-Navy Blues' manager Jose Mourinho about Okan Buruk, saying "He is jumping around like a monkey," became the center of attention. Galatasaray announced that it would file a complaint against the Portuguese manager, alleging racism.

Galatasaray General Secretary Eray Yazgan reacted to Jose Mourinho's post-derby comment: "In the position I mentioned, everyone on the opposing bench was jumping around like a monkey." Yazgan claimed that Mourinho has been disrespectful to the country and its people since the day he arrived in Turkey, stating, "He has been belittling the Turkish people and Turkey since the day he arrived."

In response to these statements, Fenerbahçe Vice President Acun Ilıcalı reacted to Yazgan's words, saying, "We understood you played poorly, we understood you criticized the referee! Since when did you turn this into racism? Don't treat anyone like a fool!"

Ilıcalı's statements to TV100 are as follows:

"A MOVE WE EXPECTED!"

"A move we expected! It must be a decision to change the agenda that came out of a crisis meeting of the Galatasaray management, which we have been following for years as Fenerbahçe! Once I got into this, I understood this... I wasn't told everything! They are going to apply to UEFA, saying how can you say this to Turkish sons... Our eyes welled up while listening to Eray Yazgan."

"IF YOU SAY MONKEY TO A BLACK PERSON, IT IS RACISM"

"If you say monkey to a black person, it is racism. If you say it to white people, how is this racism! What kind of racism is this! When I say 'don't jump like a squirrel, don't jump like a monkey,' how is this racism? When people are jumping for a yellow card, if this group is white... What Jose Mourinho said there is about people jumping too much and reacting. This is not a subject related to the color of that bench. He is not physically comparing those on the bench to monkeys. You are jumping, monkeys jump in the forest, you know... He says, 'You are jumping for a yellow card.' If I say 'don't jump like a monkey,' am I a racist too! We understood you played poorly, we understood you criticized the referee! Since when did you turn this into racism? Don't treat anyone like a fool!"

"If you drag this into racism because of the word 'monkey,' Jose Mourinho might make a statement about the intelligence of the Turkish people this time. Don't do it!"

"A MONKEY IS NOT LIKE A DONKEY. IT IS NOT RUDE, IT IS A SYMPATHETIC ANIMAL"

"A monkey is not like a donkey. It is not rude, it is a sympathetic animal. What is racism? I attribute this to Mr. Eray's lack of information. Or they wanted to write a script, he is speaking in that sense. He is very hurt... When you published a statement calling Turkish referees 'thieves,' didn't you belittle Turkish referees? I am asking Galatasaray! A month ago you said 'thieves'."

"YOU CALLED THE UEFA PRESIDENT, WE WERE ALREADY EMBARRASSED!"

"I am calling out to Galatasaray. Don't embarrass yourselves by bringing up the issue of racism here! Don't embarrass us abroad. You called the UEFA President, we were already embarrassed! Don't go and complain about racism on top of that! They will say, 'What are you doing, do you have no other lessons?'"