Mourinho faces massive ban after derby scandal – Fenerbahce in distress!

Mourinho faces massive ban after derby scandal – Fenerbahce in distress!

Fenerbahçe coach José Mourinho is suspected of receiving a penalty of up to ten games. The reason for this is a physical altercation with Galatasaray head coach Okan Buruk during a cup derby, which Fenerbahçe lost 2-1. During the game, Mourinho allegedly grabbed Buruk's face, which is now attracting the attention of disciplinary authorities. The exact length of the possible ban will depend on how serious the crime is considered

In the worst case scenario, Mourinho could be out of the sidelines for the entire season. If the allegations prove true, it would not only have an impact on his career, but also on the entire team. Fenerbahçe currently sit second in the Süper Lig, six points behind arch-rivals Galatasaray, with just nine games left in the current season.

Sport psychology in football

The situation surrounding Mourinho also raises questions about the mental preparation of coaches and players in professional football. More and more clubs, like FC St. Pauli, are recognizing the importance of sports psychology work to improve player performance. The club has publicly sought a sports psychologist to improve the expertise of the coaching staff. Uwe Stöver, sports director at FC St. Pauli, emphasizes how important it is to find a new sports psychologist who will help form a harmonious team out of individual players and develop a certain mentality.

Many Bundesliga clubs are still struggling to employ sports psychologists full-time, which means that access to sports psychology is often perceived as problem-oriented. There is a need for comprehensive sports psychological support that goes far beyond what is currently available. Interviews with experts have shown that sports psychology work often takes place outside the public eye. However, FC St. Pauli is ready to take this necessary step to achieve a better position in the competition.

The challenges in sports psychology are diverse. The market is not transparent and the qualifications of sports psychologists are often difficult to find. Uwe Stöver reports that acquisition is usually done through personal contacts, which makes the search for suitable candidates even more difficult. The chapter on sports psychology work in football is far from over.