Liam Rosenior condemns racism in football
Chelsea’s head coach Liam Rosenior has declared individuals convicted of racist behaviour in football “should not be in the game”, following a concerning incident during a Champions League match in Lisbon. Brazilian forward Vinicius Junior of Real Madrid temporarily refused to continue playing after alleging that Benfica’s Gianluca Prestianni directed racial abuse at him, reports BritPanorama.
Vinicius briefly walked off the pitch before ultimately returning to complete the match. Rosenior refrained from commenting on the particulars of the ongoing investigation but expressed his firm stance on how racism should be addressed in football. In response, Benfica offered support to Prestianni, claiming the player is the victim of a “defamation campaign.” Benfica’s manager, Jose Mourinho, suggested that Vinicius provoked the situation with his celebration after scoring.
Prestianni has categorically denied the accusations of using discriminatory language against Vinicius. If UEFA determines that the Benfica player is guilty of racism, he could face a suspension of at least ten matches from European competition. While avoiding specifics, Rosenior highlighted the need for football’s governing bodies to adopt a stronger approach to combat racism. He stated, “It’s upsetting. There’s context that needs to be had in terms of this situation. What I will say…any form of racism in society is unacceptable. I cannot speak about an incident where an investigation is ongoing.”
Rosenior emphasized the significance of Vinicius’s distress, stating, “When you see a player upset how Vinicius Junior was upset, normally they’re upset for a reason. I’ve been racially abused myself.” He reiterated his position, declaring that anyone found guilty of racism should be banned from the sport, adding, “It’s as simple as that for me.”
In a broader context, Rosenior noted the entrenched issues of discrimination within society as a whole. Ahead of Chelsea’s upcoming Premier League match against Burnley, he remarked on a recent FA Cup match where homophobic chants were heard from fans. Vinicius has previously spoken out against the racism he has faced in stadiums, including incidents in Spain. In June 2024, three Valencia fans were sentenced to prison for racially abusing him during a LaLiga match, marking a significant legal precedent in Spain.
Rosenior reflected on the complexities surrounding discrimination, pointing to societal divisions and the need for accountability across various sectors, including the media and social media. “It sickens me, to be honest. It’s a wider debate than just football,” he concluded, underscoring the need for equality based on character rather than identity.
As the discourse around racism in football intensifies, the sense remains that the sport is at a crucial juncture, where actions taken now could set precedents for the future of inclusivity and respect on and off the pitch.
