Jose Mourinho's protest goes viral: Fenerbahce files five formal complaints

Fenerbahce's 2-0 win over Antalyaspor on September 29 was not without controversy, as coach Jose Mourinho's protest over a disallowed goal made headlines around the world.

The disallowed goal, which was attributed to an offside call against Edin Dzeko, prompted Mourinho to stage an unusual protest that has since attracted international media attention.

Fenerbahce coach Mourinho's laptop protest attracts worldwide attention

Jose Mourinho, known for his eccentric methods, took his frustration to new levels during the game by using a laptop to show footage of Dzeko's disallowed goal to the cameras.

After the VAR decision to disallow the goal, Mourinho showed the offside footage in front of the broadcast cameras, visibly upset by what he believed was the wrong decision. “It’s a good goal for us,” Mourinho said after the game, adding: “I just want a VAR to help the referee make the right decisions.”

His actions did not go unnoticed. Mourinho received a yellow card for his behavior, but the incident was quickly picked up by media across Europe.

The Daily Mail described Fenerbahce coach Mourinho's actions as a “unique protest”, while Blick in Switzerland stressed: “Mourinho continues to surprise with his behavior.” Similarly, Italian media described his protest as “another example of his unconventional approach to dealing with conflicts”.

Fenerbahce files formal complaint over controversial VAR decisions

Aside from Mourinho's headline-grabbing protest, Fenerbahce are officially taking action against the referee during the match. The club has prepared a detailed complaint to submit to the Turkish Football Federation (TFF). It highlights five key moments that he believes were mishandled by both match referee Cihan Aydin and VAR official Alper Cetin.

Fenerbahce vice-president Acun Ilicali expressed the club's frustration, saying: “We trust in the good intentions of our association, but the oddities on the pitch cannot be ignored. “We will provide them with video evidence and await the necessary verification.” Ilicali stressed that the club intends to release an official statement within two days.

The five incidents in the Fenerbahce TFF complaint

1. Fenerbahce question whether Sebastian Szymanski's shot crossed the goal line, saying there is no clear evidence that it did not.
2. The club believes that Edin Dzeko should have been awarded a penalty for a foul, but VAR did not review the incident and the referee ruled against Dzeko for handball.
3. Allan Saint-Maximin was brought down by Antalyaspor's Güray and Fenerbahce argue that this foul denied a clear scoring opportunity and deserved a red card.
4. Fenerbahce are contesting a decision in the Thalisson-Tadic incident, claiming the Antalyaspor player used his arm illegally and should have received a second yellow card.
5. Finally, Fenerbahce criticized the quick offside decision against Dzeko, pointing out that the VAR check only lasted five seconds, while other teams' checks took much longer.

Jose Mourinho's protest adds to Fenerbahce's ongoing frustration

Mourinho's frustration with Turkey's VAR system has added to Fenerbahce's long-standing concerns about biased refereeing. Fenerbahce currently sit second in the Super Lig, three points behind Galatasaray, but officiating issues continue to mar their progress.

As the European Championship approaches, Fenerbahce must also manage these internal frustrations while juggling their league ambitions.

With Mourinho's protest attracting global media attention, the club will be under scrutiny both domestically and internationally to ensure every decision on and off the pitch is closely watched in the coming weeks.