Bayern Munich manager Vincent Kompany criticized Benfica coach José Mourinho for making a “huge mistake” by questioning the character of Vinícius Júnior. This comes after Vinícius accused an opponent of racially insulting him during a Champions League match.
Mourinho claimed that Vinícius, the Brazilian forward, provoked Benfica’s players with his celebration after scoring the sole goal in Tuesday’s playoff.
Following Vinícius’s goal, he alleged that Benfica’s Gianluca Prestianni directed a racial slur at him. Prestianni has denied these allegations via an Instagram post, while the club has called it a “defamation campaign.”
The match was paused for 10 minutes as referee Letexier implemented antiracism protocols, while UEFA has launched an investigation into the incident.
Mourinho expressed concerns about the frequency with which Vinícius, who is Black and has faced repeated racism in Spain, is targeted. “Something is wrong, as this happens in every stadium,” Mourinho stated. “Whatever stadium Vinícius plays in, there’s always an incident.”
Kompany voiced his disapproval of Mourinho’s remarks on Friday.
“What happens after the game is even worse,” said Kompany, who recalled his experiences as a young player facing racism, including being subjected to racist chants from Real Betis fans.
“The leader of an organization, José Mourinho, essentially attacks Vinícius Jr.’s character by using his celebration as a means to discredit him during a moment of distress,” Kompany added.
“From a leadership perspective, it’s a significant error. This behavior should not be tolerated. I am unequivocally clear on that,” Kompany remarked.
“One must never dismiss or attack the character of someone who is voicing their painful experience. There needs to be accountability.” Kompany continued, “I know many people who have worked with José Mourinho, and not one has spoken negatively about him.”
“I understand he is defending his team and his club. However, he has made a misstep,” he concluded.
The Brazilian Football Confederation has reached out to UEFA and FIFA, emphasizing the necessity to “identify and punish” anyone responsible for racially abusing Vinícius.
– Brazil demands accountability for Vinícius’s racial abuse
– Real Madrid submits evidence for UEFA investigation
– Brazil calls for repercussions in Vinícius Júnior racism case
Real Madrid manager Alvaro Arbeloa stated at a news conference on Friday that Vinícius is still “outraged” by the incident.
“Vini Jr. has been deeply affected, as we all have. He feels particularly hurt by the racism that occurred, which has no place in sports or society,” he said. “This is a key opportunity for us to continue our fight against racism, an issue that must be addressed.” He added, “This intolerable situation should never occur again, especially involving a fellow professional. There is no justification for racist behavior whatsoever.”
The Brazilian Football Confederation has reiterated its call to UEFA and FIFA for the identification and punishment of those responsible for racially targeting Vinícius.
Reports suggest that the UEFA investigation, led by an ethics and disciplinary investigator, could take up to three weeks to conclude.
This timeline could mean a potential repeat encounter between Vinícius and Prestianni in the second leg of the playoff at Santiago Bernabeu on Wednesday, with the matter still unresolved.
Benfica returns to domestic play against Primeira Liga’s last-placed AVS on Saturday, which Mourinho noted must be his priority, though he acknowledged that discussions regarding the incident will continue. “Emotionally, navigating everything that’s happened is challenging,” he shared.
PA and The Associated Press contributed to this report.