Chelsea Boss Rosenior Demands Lifetime Ban for Racism in Football
Chelsea manager Liam Rosenior has delivered a powerful condemnation of racism in football following the alleged abuse directed at Real Madrid winger Vinicius Jr during a Champions League match. Drawing from his own painful experiences, Rosenior asserted that any individual found guilty of racist behaviour should be permanently excluded from the sport.
Uefa Investigation Launched After Alleged Abuse
The incident occurred during Tuesday's Champions League knockout play-off first leg in Lisbon, where Vinicius Jr scored the only goal in Real Madrid's victory over Benfica. Following his goal, the Brazilian international rushed to the referee to report that he had been subjected to racist abuse, allegedly from Benfica player Gianluca Prestianni.
Uefa has since launched a formal investigation into the allegations, which has reignited discussions about racism's persistent presence in European football. The controversy was further stoked by Benfica manager Jose Mourinho's post-match comments, which appeared to suggest Vinicius Jr had somehow provoked the abuse through his celebrations.
Rosenior's Personal Experience with Racism
Speaking ahead of Chelsea's Premier League clash with Burnley, Rosenior reflected on his own history as a victim of racial abuse during his 16-year playing career with clubs including Hull City, Fulham, and Brighton.
"I have been racially abused myself," Rosenior revealed. "I know people that have and what people need to understand is, when you are judged for something you should be proud of, it is the worst thing."
The Chelsea manager emphasized that race should never be a factor in how players are treated, "regardless of how a player celebrates." While he declined to comment specifically on the ongoing Uefa investigation or Mourinho's remarks, Rosenior made his position on racism unequivocally clear.
Zero Tolerance Stance on Discrimination
"If any player, any coach or any manager is found guilty of racism, they shouldn't be in the game. It's as simple as that," Rosenior declared.
He described the broader issue as "sickening" and called for greater accountability across society, not just within football. "This is a very complex situation when you speak about race or gender. There are a lot of things that need to change in society," he added.
Rosenior noted that when players display the level of distress shown by Vinicius Jr, "normally they're upset for a reason," suggesting the incident warranted serious investigation and appropriate consequences.
Chelsea Injury Updates Ahead of Burnley Clash
Turning to team matters, Rosenior provided updates on several Chelsea players ahead of their weekend Premier League fixture. Defender Marc Cucurella suffered a hamstring injury during last week's draw with Leeds and remains without a definite return timeline.
"He's one of the best left-backs in the world," Rosenior said of Cucurella. "But we have Jorrel [Hato], we have Malo [Gusto] who can play on that side. We've got really good players that could cover."
In more positive news, the Chelsea manager confirmed that both Reece James and Cole Palmer are "fully fit" and available for selection against Burnley, providing welcome reinforcement for the London club's defensive and attacking options.
