Soccer-Mourinho files European human rights complaint over Turkish fine and ban
Soccer-Mourinho files European human rights complaint over Turkish fine and ban June 4 (Reuters) - Jose Mourinho has filed a complaint at the European Court of Human Rights over disciplinary sanctions he received while coaching Turkish club Fenerbahce.
The Strasbourg-based court has accepted the application from the Portuguese coach, says a notice on its website on June 1, and has requested observations from the Turkish government.
Mourinho is challenging a 600,000 Turkish lira ($13,074.74) fine plus a one-match ban from the dressing room and bench area imposed by the Turkish Football Federation in November 2024.
The federation penalised Mourinho for unsportsmanlike conduct towards rival fans during the match, and for subsequent press comments criticising refereeing standards.
In his appeal, Mourinho argues that his right to a fair trial was breached because the TFF's disciplinary and arbitration committees lack independence from the football federation's president and board of directors.
The 63-year-old also alleges that his right to a reasoned decision was violated because the federation failed to notify him of the formal reasoning behind its verdict.
And he argues the penalties went against his right to free speech, punishing him for speaking his mind about the referees.
The ECHR has asked the Turkish authorities to address whether the football panels provided an independent and impartial tribunal, and if they properly balanced Mourinho’s right to free speech against the sports federation's interests.
After parting ways with Fenerbahce following their Champions League playoff defeat in August, Mourinho joined Portuguese giants Benfica but has been linked with a return to Real Madrid.
($1 = 45.9699 liras)
(Reporting by Tommy Lund in Gdansk; Editing by Ken Ferris)