benfica vs real madrid: Mourinho criticised for reaction to Vinicius racism claims
The Champions League first-leg meeting in Lisbon was interrupted after Real Madrid forward Vinicius Junior told the referee he had been the target of an alleged racial insult from a Benfica player. The stoppage, which lasted roughly 10 minutes, has triggered an ethics and disciplinary probe and prompted sharp criticism of Benfica manager Jose Mourinho's post-match remarks.
What happened at the Estádio da Luz
The incident occurred early in the second half after Vinicius celebrated a goal and confronted home supporters. Cameras captured the 25-year-old informing the referee of the alleged abuse, and the match was halted while the anti-discrimination protocol was activated. A Benfica player named in the complaint has denied using a racial slur and later said the comment had been misinterpreted.
Match officials stepped in, moments of tension followed and play resumed after the pause. The suspension followed the established protocol designed to address discriminatory conduct during games: a halt to play, announcements and a possible longer suspension if behaviour persisted.
Reaction and fallout
Vinicius issued a strong response after the match, saying, "Racists are above all, cowards, " and condemning the behaviour as all too familiar. His national federation issued a statement of solidarity, calling the decision to trigger the protocol an act of courage and dignity.
Benfica initially issued a terse, 21-word statement at 9: 11 PM ET that dismissed the allegations before releasing a fuller response defending their player and accusing unspecified parties of a "defamation campaign. " The fuller statement invoked the club's historic anti-discrimination values and referenced a legendary figure long associated with the club's identity as evidence of its stance against racism.
The manager drew particular ire for comments that many interpreted as minimising the episode. He suggested the celebrating actions of the scorer had an influence on the events and framed the exchanges as something he preferred not to comment on in detail. Former players and commentators criticised that stance, saying a club leader should avoid any remarks that could be read as casting doubt on the victim's account.
An anti-discrimination organisation also released a statement condemning the club's initial response. A former referee criticised aspects of how the situation was handled on the pitch, suggesting the actions taken made the referee's job more difficult. Public reaction has been fierce, with prominent former players expressing disappointment in both the alleged abuse and the way it was discussed after the match.
Investigation and what comes next
European football's governing body has appointed an ethics and disciplinary inspector to investigate the allegations. Under competition rules, any player found guilty of racist conduct faces a minimum suspension of ten matches. The inquiry is expected to take weeks rather than days, which means the player accused may be available for selection for the second leg in Madrid on February 25 (ET) while the investigation runs its course.
The outcome will hinge on witness accounts, video evidence and the disciplinary process. Real Madrid teammates have said they and others in the stadium heard the exchange. The disciplinary body will consider all submissions and has the authority to impose significant suspensions if discriminatory behaviour is proven.
Meanwhile, discussions about how clubs, managers and officials should respond to allegations of racism have intensified. The episode has once again thrown into relief the broader struggle to eradicate discriminatory behaviour from the game and renewed calls for clear, decisive action from clubs and governing bodies alike.
