Jose Mourinho says he instructed Vinicius Junior to ‘just have fun and walk back’ in future after the forward issued a criticism of alleged racist abuse in Real Madrid’s 1-0 win over Benfica.
There have been deeply troubling and unsavoury scenes after Vinicius Junior broke the deadlock with a moment of magic just five minutes after the restart at Lisbon’s Estadio da Luz.
Vinicius Junior celebrated his sublime effort by dancing directly in front of Benfica’s home fans by the corner flag – a response which immediately upset lots of Mourinho’s players.
Referee Francois Letexier showed Vinicius Junior a yellow card for his part in goading Benfica’s supporters behind the goal, lots of whom reacted by hurling objects on the 25-year-old attacker.
But just moments later during a nine-minute pause in play, Vinicius Junior was seen sprinting over to Letexier to issue a criticism about something Benfica’s Gianluca Prestianni had allegedly muttered from behind his shirt within the fracas.
After a temporary chat with Vinicius, Letexier placed his arms in the form of a cross, a gesture used to signal a criticism of racist abuse in UEFA anti-racism protocol.
While it stays uncertain what – if anything – Prestianni had said, Spanish publication AS are reporting that Vinicius Junior is accusing the Argentinian of calling him a ‘monkey’.
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After play eventually got underway again, the visitors held firm to take a one-goal advantage into the second leg of the knockout phase play-off on the Bernabeu.
Mourinho shall be forced to look at on from the stands at his former stomping ground, though, with the Special One shown a red card for his protestations on the touchline within the closing stages of Tuesday’s bad-tempered match.
Throughout the earlier incident involving Vinicius Junior, the Benfica boss was pictured speaking at length with the Brazilian, who, on the time, appeared apoplectic and shut to leaving the sector of play for good.
Addressing the ugly scenes in his post-match interview with Amazon Prime, Mourinho said: ‘I saw two completely various things. I would like to be independent and I don’t comment about it. I told him [Vinicius] exactly that.
‘I told him [Vinicius] – whenever you rating a goal like that you just just have fun and walk back.
‘When he was arguing about racism, I told him the largest person [Eusebio] within the history of this club [Benfica] was black.
‘This club, the final thing that it’s, is racist. If in his mind there was something in relation to that – this in Benfica.
‘They [Vinicius and Prestianni] told me various things. But I don’t imagine in a single or one other. I would like to be an independent.’
Mourinho went on to suggest that ‘something all the time happens’ in matches involving Vinicius Junior – comments which have since received widespread criticism amongst fans on social media.
‘There’s something fallacious since it happens in every stadium,’ the ex-Chelsea, Manchester United and Tottenham manager continued.
‘A stadium where Vinicius plays something happens, all the time.
‘Look, I’m saying it was 50 minutes of football. I imagine thousands and thousands of persons are watching all over the world – a crazy goal after which game over.’
On the red card he received on the death, Mourinho added: ‘Yes, because I told the referee the reality, but they don’t prefer to take heed to the reality.’
Amazon Prime pundit Clarence Seedorf appeared to take umbrage with Mourinho’s controversial remarks, stating: ‘I believe he’s [Mourinho] remains to be emotional.
‘I believe he made a giant mistake today to justify racial abuse and I’m not saying that was the case today but he mentioned something greater than today.
‘He said wherever he goes this stuff occur, so he’s saying it’s OK when Vinicius provokes you, that’s it OK to be racist and I believe that could be very fallacious.
‘We must always never, ever justify racial abuse. And Vinicius has had enough of that unjustified behaviour from people. And I do know Mourinho by heart would agree with me but he expressed himself a bit unlucky I imagine because we should always not be telling the people at home that somebody makes a dance or something then it’s okay to be racist.’
Shortly after the ultimate whistle, Vinicius Junior took to Instagram to issue a powerful statement condemning the abuse he alleges he received within the Portuguese capital.
‘Racists are, above all, cowards. They should put their shirts of their mouths to indicate how weak they’re,’ the 2024 Ballon d’Or runner-up wrote.
‘But they’ve the protection of others who, theoretically, have an obligation to punish them. Nothing that happened today is recent in my life or in my team’s life.
‘I received a yellow card for celebrating a goal. I still don’t understand why. Alternatively, it was only a poorly executed protocol that served no purpose.
‘I don’t like to look in situations like this, especially after a giant win and when the headlines must be about Real Madrid, but it surely’s essential.’
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