‘Our fans are great but my friends aren’t being touched’: Jose Mourinho tells Roma’s ultras to stop chanting about his former Inter Milan player Dejan Stankovic’s Serbian heritage during their 3-0 win over his Sampdoria team
- Jose Mourinho told Roma fans to stop racist chants towards Dejan Stankovic
- Mourinho intervened to protect Stankovic, who he managed at Inter Milan
- After the game Sampdoria boss Stankovic thanked Mourinho for his actions
Roma manager Jose Mourinho stepped in following racist chants from his team’s fans towards Sampdoria manager Dejan Stankovic during a 3-0 victory.
Stankovic was frustrated at Sampdoria being reduced to ten men following the dismissal of Jeison Murillo when the sides were level at 0-0.
Some Roma fans responded by referencing Stankovic’s Serbian heritage.
However, Mourinho was quick to tell the Roma ultras to stop the chants as he protected Stankovic, who played under him at Inter Milan.
Stankovic was part of the Inter side that won the Champions League, Serie A and the Coppa Italia under Mourinho in the 2009-10 season.
Jose Mourinho told Roma’s ultras to stop racist chanting towards Dejan Stankovic
Sampdoria manager Stankovic thanked Mourinho after the game for his intervention
Commenting on his actions, Mourinho said: ‘I did it for a great man and a great friend. He has kids and a family. Our fans are great but my friends aren’t being touched.’
After the game Stankovic told Football Italia: ‘I thank Jose, because I didn’t even notice, but as for the chants, I am proud of who I am. I am proud to be a gypsy.’
Roma ran out 3-0 winners, with Georginio Wijnaldum opening the scoring in the 57th minute before Paulo Dybala netted a penalty and Stephan El Shaarawy added another goal in stoppage time.
Stankovic played under Mourinho at Inter and won the treble in the 2009-10 campaign
Following the game Roma are in fifth place in Serie A and are level on points with fourth placed Inter as they look to qualify for the Champions League.
Sampdoria, meanwhile, are 19th and face a significant battle to avoid relegation.
Stankovic spent much of his playing career at Inter, representing the club between 2004 and 2013. Prior to that he played for Red Star Belgrade and Lazio.
After a spell as assistant manager of Udinese, Stankovic stepped up to manage Red Star Belgrade, with whom he won three league titles and two Serbian Cups.
Stankovic was appointed as the manager of Sampdoria in October last year.