Chelsea legend Didier Drogba has come to the defence of former Blues manager José Mourinho after Turkish club Galatasaray accused the Fenerbahçe boss of making racist remarks during their heated league encounter on Monday.

Galatasaray announced plans to launch criminal proceedings against Mourinho, claiming he made “derogatory statements” against Turkish people, specifically accusing their bench of “jumping like monkeys” during the match. The club also intends to escalate the matter to governing bodies UEFA and FIFA.

The controversy arose after the goalless draw between Galatasaray and Fenerbahçe, with Mourinho further stirring tensions by suggesting that the match was better officiated because it was not handled by a Turkish referee but instead by Slovenian official Slavko Vinčić.

However, Drogba, who played under Mourinho at Chelsea in two separate spells, has publicly defended the Portuguese coach, insisting that he is not a racist. Addressing Galatasaray fans directly, Drogba dismissed the allegations and vouched for Mourinho’s character.

“I’ve seen the recent comments about Jose Mourinho,” Drogba wrote in a social media post.

“Trust me when I tell you I have known Jose for 25 years and he is not a racist and history (past and recent) is there to prove it. How can my ‘Dad’ be a racist? Come on guys.”

The Ivorian striker, who spent a season at Galatasaray and won the Turkish league, also reflected on his time at the club and the intense nature of rivalries in Turkish football.

“You know how proud I was to wear the yellow and red jersey and my love for the most decorated club in Turkey! We all know how passionate and heated rivalries can be, and I’ve been lucky enough to experience it,” he added.

Mourinho, one of Chelsea’s most successful managers, guided the Blues to three Premier League titles across two spells. His relationship with Drogba has always been one of mutual admiration, and the former striker’s words carry weight, especially among Chelsea supporters who hold both figures in high regard.