Jose Mourinho’s cowardly response to Vinicius Jr racial abuse allegations a stain on legendary career

Lisbon — A night that began with a moment of genius from Vinicius Jr. ended with a stark reminder that football’s fight against racism remains far from won, and that even its most decorated voices can choose silence over leadership. Real Madrid’s 1-0 win at Estádio da Luz will be remembered less for the Brazilian’s spectacular second-half winner than for what followed: an alleged slur from Benfica substitute Gianluca Prestianni, a ten-minute stoppage under FIFA’s anti-abuse protocol, and, most damning, the meek reaction of home manager Jose Mourinho.

When the final whistle sounded, Mourinho still held the cachet of a 63-year-old who has collected every major prize in the European club game. Yet the post-match microphone offered the stage on which that reputation suffered its most visible dent. Asked repeatedly about the flashpoint that had interrupted his side’s Champions League round-of-16 first leg, the Portuguese coach defaulted to a familiar playbook of deflection, victim-blaming and what-about-ism.

“I told him [Vinicius] — when you score a goal like that, you just celebrate and walk back,” Mourinho told Amazon Prime, referencing the forward’s exuberant celebration in front of the Benfica support. “His talents allow him to do these beautiful things, but unfortunately he was not just happy to score that astonishing goal. When you score a goal like that, you celebrate in a respectful way.”

The implication was clear: Prestianni’s alleged language, whatever its nature, had been invited by the Brazilian’s theatrics. It is an argument women and minority athletes have heard for decades, and one that anti-discrimination experts warn shifts responsibility from perpetrator to target.

Mourinho then pivoted to club mythology, invoking Eusébio, the Mozambique-born icon whose statue stands outside the stadium. “When he was arguing about racism, I told him the biggest person in the history of this club was Black,” Mourinho said. “This club, the last thing that it is, is racist.”

Thierry Henry, working as a pundit for CBS Sports, dismissed the logic live on air. “It’s much easier to cheer for those on your own team than to back those on the opposition,” the former France striker said. “I don’t like Real Madrid, but I’m a Madridista tonight.”

The Benfica manager completed the trifecta of clichés by suggesting Vinicius is a recurring provocateur. “There is something wrong because it happens in every stadium,” he said. “A stadium where Vinicius plays, something happens, always.”

Clarence Seedorf, a four-time Champions League winner, labelled the comments dangerous. “I think he made a big mistake today by justifying racist abuse,” Seedorf told Amazon Prime. “He’s actually saying that if Vinicius provokes you, it’s okay to be abusive and racist. That’s very wrong.”

What cannot be lost is the composure of the player at the centre of the storm. Rather than retaliate, Vinicius jogged to referee François Letexier, reported the alleged remark and agreed to continue only after teammates and officials enacted the crossed-arms protocol introduced by FIFA last year. It was a textbook response that contrasted sharply with the equivocation later shown in the press room.

Mourinho’s refusal to condemn even the possibility of racist language, irrespective of the investigation’s outcome, represents a squandered opportunity. A single sentence — “there is no place for discrimination of any kind in football” — would have carried weight precisely because of the trophies, press-conference quips and decades of spotlight that have defined his career. Instead, the man who once styled himself “The Special One” sounded painfully ordinary, hiding behind pedigree rather than using it.

Until the sport’s most influential figures break the link between a player’s legitimate self-expression and the vile abuse it supposedly invites, episodes like Wednesday’s will keep repeating. Vinicius Jr. deserved better. Football, still listening whenever Jose Mourinho speaks, deserved better. On a sobering night in Lisbon, both were left waiting.