“The last thing this club is is racist”
Jose Mourinho has defended Benfica and accused Real Madrid winger Vinicius Jr of inciting the crowd after an alleged racism incident at his club. Champions League clash in Lisbon.
Vinicius scored a superb winner and was booked for his celebrations as objects were thrown at him from the stands.
Television footage showed a heated exchange between Vinicius and Benfica winger Gianluca Prestianni.
The striker then spoke to referee François Letexier and went to sit in the dugout while the play took place. stopped for about 10 minutes. Letexier made a gesture with crossed arms to report racist abuse.
Mourinho spoke to his former player during the delay and was subsequently sent off after play resumed.
Mourinho told Amazon Prime: “Unfortunately Vinicius wasn't just happy to score that amazing goal and the game is over. You have to celebrate in a respectful way.
“[He incited the crowd?] I believe it. The two players' words, I want to be independent, say two completely different things. He [Prestianni] denies it.
“I told him [Vinicius] to celebrate and come back if you score a goal like this. He was talking about racism and I said that the most important person in the history of this club, Eusebio, was black. The last thing this club is is racist.
“There is something wrong because in every stadium he plays in, something happens.”
“I like Jose Mourinho but he made a bad decision – maybe this is the only time we shouldn't have heard from him,” former Arsenal winger Theo Walcott said on Amazon Prime.
2026-02-17 22:49:00
