Vinicius Junior and Jose Mourinho (Photograph by Angel Martinez, Stu Forster/Getty Pictures)
Benfica have launched one other assertion within the wake of the alleged racist abuse aimed toward Actual Madrid star Vinicius Junior in final evening’s recreation.
Vinicius accused Benfica participant Gianluca Prestianni of racism, and his Actual Madrid teammate Kylian Mbappe backed him up on that.
Benfica nonetheless insist they’re defending their participant, and that they aren’t a membership that may stand for racism or discrimination of any type.
Nonetheless, at this level the Portuguese giants appear to simply be digging themselves a deeper gap once they certainly simply have to apologise and take the suitable motion.
Benfica assertion on Gianluca Prestianni
Benfica’s newest assertion, as per BBC Sport, reads as follows:
“Sport Lisboa e Benfica views with a spirit of full collaboration, transparency, openness and a way of readability the steps introduced at the moment by UEFA, following the alleged case of racism that occurred within the recreation towards Actual Madrid.
“The Membership reaffirms, clearly and unequivocally, its historic and unwavering dedication to defending the values of equality, respect, and inclusion, which align with the core values of its basis and which have Eusébio as their best image.
“Sport Lisboa e Benfica reiterates that it totally helps and believes within the model offered by the participant Gianluca Prestianni, whose conduct whereas serving the Membership has all the time been guided by respect for opponents, establishments, and the rules that outline Benfica’s identification. The Membership regrets the defamation marketing campaign to which the participant has been subjected.”
Pundits proceed to criticise Jose Mourinho
Benfica supervisor Jose Mourinho has acquired lots of damaging press for the way in which he personally has dealt with the scenario.
The previous Chelsea and Manchester United boss very clearly regarded to shift the blame onto Vinicius himself, as he criticised the participant’s celebration for being provocative.
Former Liverpool defender Jamie Carragher has slammed Mourinho for being a hypocrite as he’s so typically been somebody who likes to wind up opposition followers himself, whereas former Tottenham midfielder Jamie O’Hara slammed Mourinho’s feedback as “disgusting” on Sky Sports activities.
“I believe it is disgusting what Jose Mourinho has come out and mentioned”
Jamie O’Hara criticises the Benfica supervisor for suggesting Vinicius Jr provoked a response from Benfica followers and gamers earlier than reporting alleged racist abuse. pic.twitter.com/UQBwcWw1WX
— Sky Sports activities Information (@SkySportsNews) February 18, 2026
“It’s disgusting what Jose Mourinho has come out and mentioned. The feedback are disgraceful, they are surely. He’s had a go at him for celebrating a aim, he scored a incredible aim we should always all be speaking about,” O’Hara mentioned.
“His celebration is completely superb, he enjoys his second. He will get booked by the referee for celebrating, which for my part is disgraceful as nicely after which he will get abused.
“He then has to go to the referee and say I’ve been abused, for Jose Mourinho to return out and virtually say he brings it upon himself I believe it’s outrageous, and completely unfair.
“You may’t say he brings it upon himself as a result of he’s the one getting focused. I believe Mourinho will remorse his feedback, I believe he’s made a large mistake and bang out of order to query Vinicius Junior.”
? NEW footage seems to indicate Kylian Mbappe additionally had a missile thrown at him by Benfica followers!
[via @llucassantos7 / Instagram] pic.twitter.com/ytXXBgQosE
— CaughtOffside (@caughtoffside) February 18, 2026
