benfica vs real madrid: Mourinho criticised for reaction after Vinicius alleges racist abuse
Real Madrid forward Vinicius Junior reported alleged racist abuse during his side's Champions League tie in Lisbon, a complaint that halted the match for around 10 minutes and has sparked an escalating row. Benfica's handling of the incident and comments from manager Jose Mourinho have drawn heavy criticism as UEFA opens a disciplinary investigation.
What happened on the night
The incident occurred shortly after Vinicius had given the visitors a 1-0 lead, celebrating in front of the home fans. Cameras and on-field officials recorded the forward telling the referee that he had been racially abused by a Benfica player. The referee stopped play and activated the anti-racism protocol; the match was suspended for about 10 minutes while officials and both teams conferred.
Benfica's player denied making a racist remark released after the game. Benfica initially posted a brief 21-word message at 9: 11 PM ET that disregarded the allegations, then followed with a longer statement characterising the matter as part of a "defamation campaign" against their player. Real Madrid and the Brazilian Football Confederation publicly expressed support for Vinicius, calling his decision to invoke the protocol courageous and underlining that racism has no place in football.
Mourinho's remarks and the backlash
Benfica manager Jose Mourinho was widely criticised for comments he made after the match. He suggested that Vinicius's celebration may have provoked a reaction and pointed to the club's historical figure Eusebio when arguing that Benfica is not racist. Those remarks were viewed by many as deflecting from the allegation rather than addressing the seriousness of the claim.
Former players, pundits and anti-discrimination campaigners criticised Mourinho's tone and choice of emphasis. A former Premier League referee also attracted criticism for comments implying the incident complicated the referee's job. Anti-racism groups called Benfica's initial response inadequate, urging the club to engage constructively with the investigation and wider efforts to stamp out discrimination from stadiums.
Investigation and wider reaction
UEFA has appointed an ethics and disciplinary inspector to examine the allegation and the surrounding circumstances. Under governing rules, any player found guilty of racist conduct faces a suspension of at least 10 matches. The process will look at testimony from players, match officials and any available audiovisual evidence from the stadium.
Reactions have come from multiple corners of the game. Vinicius reaffirmed his stance in a public message, calling racists cowards and reiterating that such behaviour remains a recurring problem in his career. The national confederation of Brazil voiced solidarity with him and pledged to support the fight against discrimination. Anti-racism organisations criticised Benfica's initial statements as dismissive, while many former players and commentators urged calm and full cooperation with investigators to ensure a thorough and transparent outcome.
The episode has reopened debates about how clubs and officials handle allegations of racial abuse during matches, the consistency of sanctions, and the responsibility of team leaders to manage tensions in the immediate aftermath. With a formal investigation now under way, attention will focus on the evidence collected from the stadium, the accounts of those involved and whether disciplinary measures will follow.
