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What Mourinho said about Vinicius Jr racism row ahead of Real Madrid vs Benfica

byFootball Insomnia

February 25, 2026

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What Mourinho said about Vinicius Jr racism row ahead of Real Madrid vs Benfica

Everything Jose Mourinho said about Vinicius Jr racism storm ahead of Real Madrid vs Benfica – The Mirror

Need to know

Vinicius Junior accused Benfica’s Gianluca Prestianni of using a racial slur against him, with Jose Mourinho’s response towards the alleged racism making headlines

Jose Mourinho made his thoughts clear on the alleged Vinicius Jr racism incident(Image: Angel Martinez, Getty Images)

Everything Jose Mourinho has said about the Vinicius Junior racism storm ahead of Real Madrid vs Benfica

Vinicius Junior incident: The Champions League knockout phase play-off first-leg match between Benfica and Real Madrid was briefly halted last week after Vinicius Junior accused Benfica player Gianluca Prestianni of making a racist comment against him while covering his mouth with his shirt. Prestianni has denied the accusation, saying Vinicius “regrettably misunderstood” what was said.
Initial Confrontation and On-Pitch Advice: Directly after Vinicius Jr reported the abuse to the referee, Jose Mourinho was seen speaking to the visibly upset player on the touchline. He later revealed he told Vinicius that “when you score a goal like that, you just celebrate and walk back” rather than engaging with the crowd.
Defence of Benfica’s History: During his post-match interview, Mourinho defended his club against allegations of institutional racism. He pointed to club legend Eusébio, stating that “the biggest person in the history of this club was black” to argue that Benfica is fundamentally not a racist club.
Questioning the Validity of the Claims: Mourinho adopted a stance of neutrality over the specific exchange between Vinicius and Prestianni. He stated that because both players “told me different things,” he chose to remain “independent” and would not believe one version of events over the other.
Criticism of the Goal Celebration: The Portuguese manager suggested that Vinicius’ “stupid” dancing celebration after his 50th-minute goal incited the home fans and players. He argued the Brazilian should have been happy with the wondergoal itself rather than seeking further reaction from the stands.
The “Every Stadium” Remark: In a comment that drew the most backlash, Mourinho noted that “a stadium where Vinicius plays, something happens, always.” On February 18, the anti-discrimination charity Kick It Out released a statement accusing Mourinho of “gaslighting” the victim, arguing that by focusing on the celebration and the club’s history instead of the abuse, he was undermining the seriousness of the report.
Backlash from Pundits and Peers: Football figures like Clarence Seedorf and Jamie Carragher publicly slammed Mourinho’s logic as “hypocritical” and a “big mistake.” Seedorf noted that Mourinho’s comments appeared to justify racial abuse as a legitimate response to on-field provocation, while the manager’s own former Chelsea player John Obi Mikel took issue and branded his comments “clumsy.”
Mourinho’s Silence: Following UEFA’s provisional suspension of Prestianni on February 23, Mourinho has reportedly avoided the media ahead of the second leg. Because he was also sent off during the first leg for dissent, he remains sidelined and has not issued further clarifications on his initial stance.