Mourinho sues Turkey over sanctions at Europe’s top human‑rights court.

Jose Mourinho has filed a lawsuit with the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR), claiming that his right to freedom of expression was violated while he was managing Turkish club Fenerbahçe.

The complaint was lodged in March 2025, almost six months before Mourinho was dismissed by the Super Lig side after the team failed to qualify for the Champions League.

According to court documents obtained by AFP, the Portuguese coach alleges that the Turkish Football Federation (TFF) imposed “disciplinary sanctions” on him for “unsportsmanlike conduct.”

The sanctions stemmed from remarks Mourinho made in November 2024 about supporters of a rival team and about Turkish referees. They resulted in a match ban and two fines totaling approximately $21,000.

Under Article 6 of the European Convention, the applicant states that the dispute was not decided by an independent and impartial tribunal, as noted in an ECHR filing dated 13 May. He also claims that he was “not notified” of the TFF’s decision and that, under Article 10, his “right to freedom of expression was infringed by the sanctions imposed.”

The court has accepted the complaint and has issued a set of questions to Turkish authorities.

When Mourinho arrived in Istanbul in June 2024, he was greeted by a fanfare from supporters clad in Fenerbahçe’s yellow and black. However, he was unable to end the club’s title drought that has persisted since 2014, and he was let go 14 months later.

Since leaving Fenerbahçe, Mourinho has been coaching Portuguese club Benfica. He may return to Real Madrid, where he previously managed from 2010 to 2013, in the coming days.

The article “Mourinho takes Turkey to top Europe rights court over sanctions” first appeared on Vanguard News.