Kick It Out Accuses Mourinho of 'Gaslighting' Vinicius Jr in Racism Row
The prominent anti-racism charity Kick It Out has launched a scathing criticism of Jose Mourinho, accusing the Benfica manager of 'gaslighting' Real Madrid star Vinicius Jr. This follows Mourinho's controversial remarks in the aftermath of Benfica's 1-0 defeat to Real Madrid on Tuesday night, where he suggested the Brazilian forward had provoked the incident by celebrating his goal excessively.
Mourinho's Controversial Post-Match Comments
Speaking to Amazon Prime after the match, Mourinho expressed his view that Vinicius Jr's celebration was disrespectful. "It should be the crazy moment of the game, an amazing goal in a good game... these talents are able to do these beautiful things but unfortunately he [Vinicius] was not just happy to score that astonishing goal and then the game was over," Mourinho stated. "When you score a goal like that you celebrate in a respectful way."
When directly questioned if Vinicius had 'incited' Benfica's players and fans, Mourinho replied, "Yeah, I believe so." He later revealed he told Vinicius, "When you score a goal like that you just celebrate and walk back." Mourinho also referenced Benfica's history, telling the player, "The biggest person in the history of this club was black. This club, the last thing it is is racist."
The Alleged Racist Incident
The controversy erupted moments after Vinicius Jr scored the game's only goal in the second half. The player reported that Benfica's Gianluca Prestianni directed a racist comment towards him, allegedly calling him a 'monkey'. Prestianni had his mouth obscured by his shirt during the alleged exchange. The incident led to a lengthy pause in play, during which Mourinho was seen conversing with Vinicius and Kylian Mbappe.
Prestianni has vehemently denied the accusations. On Instagram, he posted, "I want to clarify that at no time did I direct racist insults to player Vinicius Junior, who regrettably misunderstood what he thought he heard." He later questioned on X why no Real Madrid players reacted immediately if the accusation was so serious, and defended covering his mouth with his shirt as a common practice among footballers.
Kick It Out's Strong Condemnation
Kick It Out responded forcefully to Mourinho's comments on social media platform X. The charity asserted that focusing on Vinicius Jr's celebration instead of the reported discrimination constitutes a form of gaslighting. "When anyone reports discrimination in football, or anywhere, the first priority is that they are listened to and feel supported," the statement read.
"Focusing on Vinicius Jr’s goal celebration or the history of the club, instead of acknowledging the report, is a form of gaslighting. This approach not only harms the individual affected but also sends the wrong message to others around the world who may have experienced similar situations," Kick It Out continued. The charity emphasized the need for responsible leadership in football that reinforces respect, inclusion, and accountability, and called for a thorough investigation into the incident.
Club Statements and Investigation
Benfica issued a statement on Wednesday firmly backing Prestianni. "The Club reaffirms, clearly and unequivocally, its historical and unwavering commitment to defending the values of equality, respect, and inclusion," it said, referencing club legend Eusébio as a symbol of these values. The statement added that Benfica "fully supports and believes in the version presented by the player Gianluca Prestianni" and regretted the "defamation campaign" against him.
Earlier, Benfica's official social media account had posted footage claiming that Real Madrid players were too far from Prestianni to hear any remark, prompting backlash from fans. UEFA is expected to open an investigation into the alleged racist incident, adding another layer to this developing story that has captured global attention.
