Kompany rebukes Mourinho’s comments on Vinicius racism allegation
Vincent Kompany has delivered a passionate rebuke of Jose Mourinho’s remarks following the alleged racist abuse directed at Vinicius Jr during Real Madrid’s Champions League clash with Benfica on Tuesday evening, reports BritPanorama.
The incident unfolded after Vinicius netted the winning goal in Real Madrid’s 1-0 victory, leading to a significant pause in the match. The Brazilian was cautioned for his celebration, moments before he reported alleged racist remarks from Benfica winger Gianluca Prestianni. This led UEFA to launch an investigation into the claims, which Prestianni has denied.
Addressing the media at his pre-match press conference on Friday, Kompany, the Bayern Munich manager, described Mourinho’s post-match comments as “a huge mistake” and emphasized that such statements should not be tolerated in football.
Kompany opted to respond in English, stating it would allow him to be “a bit clearer” about his views. He took particular issue with Mourinho’s assertion, referencing Benfica legend Eusebio as evidence that there is no racism problem at the club. “Do you know what black players had to go through in the 1960s?” he asked, challenging anyone who might suggest otherwise.
He further noted, “Probably at the time the only option they had was to be quiet, to say nothing, be above it and to be 10 times better in order to get a little bit of credit for people to say ‘actually, he is good.’ That was Eusebio’s life,” underscoring the struggles of previous generations in football.
Kompany acknowledged Mourinho’s significant stature in football, revealing that he knows numerous individuals who have worked with the Portuguese manager, none of whom have spoken negatively about him. Nonetheless, he asserted, “He has made a mistake.”
In highlighting Mourinho’s history of provocative behavior, the Bayern boss recalled notable moments from the manager’s career, including his infamous knee-slide celebration at Old Trafford and a controversial gesture towards Barcelona supporters during a Champions League semi-final. In response, former South Africa striker Benni McCarthy stated that Mourinho’s comments were “very wrong” and suggested that emotions had overtaken judgment.
McCarthy, who has personal experience with Mourinho, added that he hopes the manager will publicly acknowledge his error. Meanwhile, Vinicius, who has been vocal about racism in Spain, expressed on Instagram that “racists are, above all, cowards.” Benfica has defended Prestianni amid the allegations, asserting that there is a “defamation campaign” against the player, who could face a minimum ten-match European ban if found guilty.
The incident highlights the ongoing battle against racism in football and the challenges that players continue to face, drawing attention to the need for accountability and clarity in the sport.
