Mourinho Lays into ‘Man of the Match’ VAR after Fenerbahce’s Win

 Joe Mourinho. (AFP via Getty Images)
Joe Mourinho. (AFP via Getty Images)
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Mourinho Lays into ‘Man of the Match’ VAR after Fenerbahce’s Win

 Joe Mourinho. (AFP via Getty Images)
Joe Mourinho. (AFP via Getty Images)

Fenerbahce coach Jose Mourinho said the Video Assistant Referee went from being the invisible man to the most important man on the pitch after several controversial decisions went against his side in their 3-2 Super Lig win at Trabzonspor on Sunday.

Trabzonspor were awarded two penalties in the second half following VAR interventions, and with the score tied a 2-2 late in the game Mourinho was incensed when a challenge on Bright Osayi-Samuel went unpunished.

The Portuguese coach suggested the VAR, Atilla Karaoglan, had missed the incident as he was drinking coffee.

Despite having late penalty claims waved away, the visitors got the win when Sofyan Amrabat scored deep into stoppage time, prompting the former Chelsea, Real Madrid and Manchester United manager to race onto the pitch to celebrate with a knee slide.

"The referee was just a little boy that was there on the pitch, but the referee was Atilla Karaoglan, so man of the match," Mourinho told beIN Sports Türkiye.

"He goes from the invisible man to the most important man in the match."

Mourinho said Karaoglan should never be involved in officiating another Fenerbahce game.

"Isn't a red card on Bright, Karaoglan was what, drinking coffee at that time, didn't see that red card for that player?" he said.

"He was alert to give the two penalty decisions (to Trabzonspor) when the referee didn't give, then was having Turkish tea when it was a clear penalty for us and didn't give it.

"I think I am speaking on behalf of every Fenerbahce fan, we don't want him again."



Sydney Marathon Becomes 7th Race in World Majors Series

A boat sails down in front of the Opera House on a rainy morning in Sydney on November 2, 2024. (AFP)
A boat sails down in front of the Opera House on a rainy morning in Sydney on November 2, 2024. (AFP)
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Sydney Marathon Becomes 7th Race in World Majors Series

A boat sails down in front of the Opera House on a rainy morning in Sydney on November 2, 2024. (AFP)
A boat sails down in front of the Opera House on a rainy morning in Sydney on November 2, 2024. (AFP)

The Sydney marathon will become the seventh event of the World Marathon Majors series from next year.

World Marathon Majors announced Monday that the Sydney event, which had over 20,000 finishers in its last running in September, had been successful after a three-year candidacy process to join a series of elite events that includes New York, London, Berlin, Boston, Tokyo and Chicago in 2025.

Sydney is the first city in the southern hemisphere to be included as a major and its marathon route takes in some of the most historic landmarks in Australia’s biggest city, including the Harbor Bridge and the Opera House.

Kenyan athlete Brimin Misoi and Ethiopia’s Workanesh Gurmesa surged to record-breaking victories at this year's Sydney marathon in September.

The next Sydney marathon will take place on Aug. 31.