{"id":483391,"date":"2026-02-18T16:52:14","date_gmt":"2026-02-18T16:52:14","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/483391\/"},"modified":"2026-02-18T16:52:14","modified_gmt":"2026-02-18T16:52:14","slug":"benfica-boss-jose-mourinho-criticised-for-reaction-to-vinicius-junior-racist-abuse-claims","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/483391\/","title":{"rendered":"Benfica boss Jose Mourinho criticised for reaction to Vinicius Junior racist abuse claims"},"content":{"rendered":"

ICYMI: ‘The last thing this club is is racist’ – Mourinhopublished at 13:29 GMT<\/p>\n

13:29 GMT<\/p>\n

In case you missed it, Benfica manager Jose Mourinho was seen speaking with Vinicius after the player took the decision to walk off the pitch following the interaction with Gianluca Prestianni.<\/p>\n

The Portuguese said in his post-match interview that he was told different things by Vinicius and Prestianni regarding the incident.<\/p>\n

In addition to expressing his belief that Vinicius had been disrespectful with his goal celebration, he pointed to the club’s legendary striker Eusebio as proof that Benfica is not a racist club.<\/p>\n

Asked if he felt Vinicius incited the crowd, Mourinho said: “Yes. I believe so.<\/p>\n

“It should be the crazy moment of the game, an amazing goal. Unfortunately [he was] not just happy to score that astonishing goal. When you score a goal like that, you celebrate in a respectful way.”<\/p>\n

He added: “I told [Vinicius], when you score a goal like that you just celebrate and walk back. When he was arguing about racism, I told him the biggest person in the history of this club [Eusebio] was black.<\/p>\n

“This club, the last thing that it is, is racist. If in his mind there was something in relation to that, this is Benfica.<\/p>\n

“They [Vinicius and Prestianni] told me different things. But I don’t believe in one or another. I want to be an independent.”<\/p>\n

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