Benfica coach Jose Mourinho Benfica has vowed that Gianluca Prestianni will never feature for his team again if he is found guilty of racially abusing Real Madrid winger Vinicius Jr. The statement marks a decisive shift from Mourinho’s initial response following the controversial Champions League tie last month.
Prestianni, a 20-year-old Benfica winger, is currently under investigation after allegations emerged that he directed racist abuse at Vinicius Jr during the first leg of the Champions League play-off. The accusations have placed the Portuguese club and Mourinho at the center of a debate about accountability in European football.
Mourinho’s initial reaction drew criticism. At the time, he suggested that Vinicius Jr provoked opponents and stopped short of condemning Prestianni’s alleged behavior. In interviews with Amazon Prime Video Sport, the coach implied that incidents on the pitch were part of the game, noting that Benfica cannot be labeled racist because its most celebrated player, Eusebio, was black. Mourinho also highlighted that Vinicius Jr has been the target of abuse in multiple stadiums, framing the issue as complex.
Now, Mourinho has taken a more definitive stance. Speaking this week, he said, “If my player did not respect these principles, which are mine and Benfica’s as well, then that player’s career with a coach named Jose Mourinho and at a club named Benfica will come to an end.” The 63-year-old added, “I am not a scholar, but I am not ignorant either. The presumption of innocence is a human right, isn’t it? I stand by my opinion. If the player is indeed guilty, I will never look at him the way I looked at him before, and with me, it’s over. But I have to put many ‘ifs’ in front of it.”
This statement represents a stark departure from Mourinho’s tone after the match in question, which ended with a Benfica loss and Mourinho receiving a red card. At the time, he described Vinicius Jr’s goal celebration as excessive, stating, “These talents are able to do these beautiful things, but unfortunately he [Vinicius Jr] was not just happy to score that astonishing goal. When you score a goal like that, you celebrate in a respectful way.”
In follow-up comments, Mourinho suggested that on-pitch words exchanged between Vinicius Jr and Prestianni were complicated, adding, “Yes. I believe so. Then the words that they exchange, Gianluca Prestianni with Vinicius, I want to be independent.” He reiterated that Benfica cannot be a racist club, referencing Eusebio as a symbol of the club’s history and ethos.
Mourinho emphasized the broader context of football culture, noting that racial abuse is unfortunately recurrent in stadiums. “There is something wrong because it happens in every stadium. A stadium where Vinicius plays, something happens, always. Look, I am saying it was a good 50 minutes of football. I believe millions of people are watching around the world – a crazy goal and then game over,” he said.
While Mourinho balances the principle of presumption of innocence with a clear warning, his remarks signal that Benfica intends to confront racism decisively if Prestianni is found culpable. The investigation continues, and the European football community will be watching closely, as Benfica and Mourinho navigate the intersection of discipline, ethics, and competitive football.
