Nigerian and Galatasaray forward Victor Osimhen has faced backlash for endorsing his club’s anti-racism statement against Fenerbahce manager Jose Mourinho.

The controversy began after Mourinho, in a post-match interview following Fenerbahce’s 0-0 draw with Galatasaray on Monday, praised foreign referee Slavko Vincic while stating that a Turkish referee would have been a “disaster.” Commenting on an early challenge, he added that a Turkish referee would have issued a yellow card “after the big dive and their bench jumping around like monkeys.”

In response, Galatasaray accused Mourinho of racism and announced plans to take legal action. The club stated: “Jose Mourinho has persistently issued derogatory statements directed towards the Turkish people. Today, his discourse has escalated. We hereby formally declare our intention to initiate criminal proceedings concerning the racist statements made by Jose Mourinho.”

Osimhen’s decision to share the club’s statement on Instagram sparked mixed reactions, with some criticizing him for taking sides and others defending his right to support his team. The debate continues as UEFA and FIFA assess the allegations against Mourinho.