Mourinho changes stance on Vinicius Jr racism allegations after criticism, vows never to pick Prestianni if guilty
Benfica manager Jose Mourinho has declared that winger Gianluca Prestianni will be expelled from the club if an investigation confirms he racially abused Real Madrid star Vinicius Junior during a Champions League match last month, marking a significant shift in the coach’s position on the allegations.
The Investigation and a Manager’s Ultimatum
Prestianni, 20, is under formal scrutiny over accusations made by Vinicius Junior following the first leg of the Champions League play-off tie in February. Mourinho, 63, now states that proven guilt would be intolerable. “If my player did not respect these principles, which are mine and Benfica’s as well, then that player’s career with a coach named Jose Mourinho and at a club named Benfica will come to an end,” he said, while emphasising the “presumption of innocence” as a human right. He added, “I stand by my opinion. If the player is indeed guilty, I will never look at him the way I looked at him before, and with me, it’s over,” though he cautioned, “But I have to put many ‘ifs’ in front of it.”
Initial Comments That Sparked Outrage
Mourinho’s current stance contrasts sharply with his immediate post-match reaction, which drew widespread criticism. Speaking to Amazon Prime Video Sport after the fiery encounter, during which he received a red card, Mourinho suggested Vinicius had incited the crowd. “These talents are able to do these beautiful things, but unfortunately he [Vinicius Junior] was not just happy to score that astonishing goal. When you score a goal like that, you celebrate in a respectful way,” he said. When asked if Vinicius incited opponents, Mourinho responded, “Yes. I believe so,” and declared he wanted to remain “independent.”
The Benfica boss also invoked the legacy of the club’s legendary black striker Eusebio to argue Benfica could not be racist. “I told him [Vinicius] – when you score a goal like that you just celebrate and walk back. When he was arguing about racism, I told him the biggest person in the history of this club was black,” Mourinho said. He further implied a pattern, noting, “There is something wrong because it happens in every stadium. A stadium where Vinicius plays something happens, always.”
Swift Condemnation from Pundits
Mourinho’s initial remarks were swiftly condemned by pundits on the broadcast. Former England captain Wayne Rooney said it was “very unfair” to suggest incidents occur wherever Vinicius plays. Clarence Seedorf stated Mourinho had “made a big mistake today to justify racist abuse,” adding, “I definitely believe we should never, in any circumstance, justify racial abuse.” Theo Walcott labelled the comments “disappointing,” saying Mourinho made “poor decision-making” and that it was best he had not been in front of the cameras.
Vinicius Junior’s Powerful Response
Vinicius Junior, who has faced repeated racist abuse, released a statement branding racists as “cowards.” “They need to put their shirts in their mouths to show how weak they are,” he said, adding that they have “the protection of others who, theoretically, have an obligation to punish them.” He expressed frustration at receiving a yellow card for his goal celebration, calling it a “poorly executed protocol that served no purpose,” and said he spoke out despite preferring headlines to focus on Real Madrid’s win.
Teammates and Rivals React
The incident provoked strong reactions on the pitch. Real Madrid’s Kylian Mbappe was visibly enraged and had to be restrained by teammates. Defender Trent Alexander-Arnold called the scenes “disgusting” and “a disgrace to football,” saying, “It’s overshadowed the performance, especially after such an amazing goal. Vini has been subjected to this a few times throughout his career… There’s no place for it in society. It’s disgusting.”
As the investigation into Prestianni continues, Mourinho’s revised position places the matter squarely within the club’s disciplinary framework, highlighting the ongoing struggle against racism in football.
