Jose Mourinho's Long History of Denying his Players Could Ever Be Racist
From Fenerbahçe to Madrid to Chelsea, the Special One is consistent. Racism is minimised, claims are exaggerated, and his players are innocent.
Jose Mourinho is in hot water after dismissing allegations of racism by one of his players against Vinícius Júnior, but this is par for the course for the coach. The Sports and Crime Briefing revisits the Special One’s troubling habit of defending his players at any cost.
On February 17, in the 52nd minute of a Champions League clash between Real Madrid and Benfica, Vinícius Júnior pointed at Gianluca Prestianni and accused him of using a racial slur.
The referee stopped the match and activated UEFA’s anti-racism protocol. Real Madrid walked off the pitch although agreed to return and the match continued after ten minutes.
The fallout saw Benfica coach Jose Mourinho defend Prestianni in controversial fashion, suggesting Vinícius was making up the drama. “There is something wrong because it happens in every stadium,” Mourinho said after the match. “A stadium where Vinícius plays something happens, always.”
He also implied that Benfica was not a racist club as its greatest player, Eusebio…
