Tuesday, February 24, 2026

Rio Ferdinand defends Jose Mourinho’s character amid Benfica racism controversy

February 24, 2026
1 min read
Rio Ferdinand defends Jose Mourinho's character amid Benfica racism controversy

Rio Ferdinand defends José Mourinho amid racism row

Rio Ferdinand has come to the defence of José Mourinho following widespread criticism of how the Benfica manager responded to racism allegations involving Vinicius Jr during last week’s Champions League clash, reports BritPanorama.

The former Manchester United defender acknowledged that Mourinho’s handling of the situation was misguided but firmly rejected any implication that the Portuguese coach harbours racist views. Speaking on his YouTube programme, Ferdinand shared his belief that Mourinho would, in time, reflect on his comments saying, “Maybe I approached that wrong. And it doesn’t make José Mourinho a racist by the way.”

He expressed hope that Mourinho would consider the backlash generated by his initial remarks and reassess his position. Ferdinand further commended Mourinho’s character, highlighting his positive relationships with players throughout his career in top European leagues. “I think José Mourinho has done enough for black footballers from all over the world, who look at him like a father figure, to suggest that the guy hasn’t got a racist bone in his body,” he elaborated.

The controversy originally erupted during Benfica’s 1-0 defeat to Real Madrid on February 17, when Prestianni was seen placing his shirt over his mouth before directing a comment towards Vinicius. In response, the Brazilian forward alerted referee Francois Letexier, triggering UEFA’s official anti-racism protocol.

Vinicius had just scored a spectacular goal and celebrated with a dance near the corner flag, provoking a strong reaction from home supporters. When questioned regarding Vinicius’s celebration and its potential to incite the crowd, Mourinho stated, “Yes. I believe so. When you score a goal like that, you celebrate in a respectful way.” These comments drew sharp criticism, including from Gary Lineker, who accused Mourinho of gaslighting the Brazilian star.

In light of the situation, UEFA has taken action against Prestianni, imposing a provisional one-match suspension that excludes him from the second leg at the Santiago Bernabeu. The governing body has also appointed an Ethics and Disciplinary Inspector to investigate the allegations, with Prestianni facing the possibility of a ten-match suspension, although he has denied using racist language. On social media, the Argentine stated, “I want to clarify that at no time did I direct racist insults at the player Vinicius Junior, who unfortunately misinterpreted what he thought he heard.”

Mourinho, meanwhile, has opted to avoid media duties ahead of the return fixture, leaving assistant Joao Tralhao to handle inquiries about the ongoing investigation.

As the dust settles on this incident, it raises uncomfortable questions about the intersection of race and sport, reminding us how swiftly opinions — and repercussions — can pivot in the glare of the public eye.

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