Real Madrid’s Vinicius Junior angry with Jose Mourinho after racism incident – ‘repulsive’

Madrid, Spain – Real Madrid forward Vinicius Junior has labelled Jose Mourinho’s post-match remarks “repulsive” after the Benfica manager appeared to equate the Brazilian’s goal celebrations with the alleged racist abuse directed at him by opposing teenager Gianluca Prestianni.

The flash-point, which marks the first time Vinicius has accused a fellow professional of racism, triggered global support for the 23-year-old – yet sympathy has been conspicuously absent in Portugal, where Benfica have publicly stood by Prestianni and Mourinho has refused to condemn the alleged slur.

Speaking after the Estadio da Luz encounter, Mourinho insisted he was “not calling Vinicius a liar” but swiftly pivoted to criticise the forward’s on-field conduct, describing his celebrations as “provocative” and “a problem in every stadium”. According to Spanish outlet El Chiringuito, Vinicius was incensed by the apparent moral equivalence drawn between perceived show-boating and the serious allegation of racial abuse, and he now considers the Portuguese coach’s stance “repulsive”.

The fall-out has widened an already polarised debate. While Real Madrid and their squad have backed their star “to the hilt”, a Portuguese television pundit attracted viral scorn by invoking former Spanish dictator Francisco Franco to argue that Madrid were poorly placed to complain about racism. In contrast, French World Cup winner Lilian Thuram questioned why the testimony of Vinicius and compatriot Kylian Mbappe was not deemed sufficient proof by sceptics.

Mourinho, sent off late in the match, will serve a suspension that prevents him from returning to the Santiago Bernabeu for the return fixture. He is not scheduled to address the media ahead of Benfica’s domestic meeting with AVS this weekend and could yet avoid the pre-match press conference in Madrid before the Champions League rematch next week, though scrutiny of his role in the controversy is unlikely to subside.

With tensions high and reputations on the line, European football now awaits the next chapter in a story that has pitted player against player, club against club, and highlighted the sport’s continuing struggle to confront racism with one clear, united voice.