In a heated Europa League encounter between Fenerbahce and Manchester United, Fenerbahce manager Jose Mourinho found himself dismissed after a furious reaction to a decision he believed had gone unfairly against his team. The Portuguese coach’s frustration reached a peak around the hour mark when Fenerbahce was denied a penalty following an incident between midfielder Manuel Ugarte and Manchester United’s Bright Osayi-Samuel.
The controversial play unfolded as Ugarte made a challenge on Osayi-Samuel, who had just lost possession of the ball. In the attempt to retrieve it, Ugarte’s contact with Osayi-Samuel led the latter to go to the ground in what Fenerbahce players and staff perceived as a clear foul worthy of a penalty. However, referee Clement Turpin saw the incident differently, choosing not to award a penalty and waving play on. To the frustration of Mourinho and his bench, there was no review by VAR despite video replays showing some contact between the two players.
The Fenerbahce bench erupted in protest as Osayi-Samuel stayed on the ground after the clash. Manchester United’s Diogo Dalot eventually kicked the ball out of bounds, allowing for medical staff to check on Osayi-Samuel. During this brief pause in play, tensions continued to simmer on the Fenerbahce sideline. The fourth official stepped in to help manage the situation, attempting to calm the emotions that were flaring along the touchline.
However, referee Turpin soon approached the Fenerbahce technical area, card in hand, and issued a red card. Initially, it wasn’t clear who the dismissal was for. But as things settled, it became evident that Mourinho had been the recipient of the card and would be leaving the sideline. He made his way to a spot just behind the dugout, where another Fenerbahce coach was sitting. The coach appeared to be motioning that he believed he had been the one sent off, leading Mourinho to point to himself in response, suggesting he was indeed the intended target of the dismissal.
The incident added to the ongoing drama between Mourinho and his former club, Manchester United, as he watched the remainder of the match from a different perspective. His departure from the touchline underscored the intensity of the match and highlighted the impact that refereeing decisions and VAR calls—or lack thereof—can have on the emotions of players, coaches, and fans alike in high-stakes games. The clash ultimately served as another chapter in Mourinho’s storied career, which has often been marked by intense touchline moments and emotional responses to key decisions on the field.