José Mourinho, manager of Portuguese side Benfica, has sounded out a note of warning to one of his players, telling him that “his career will end” if he is found to have been racist.
Gianluca Prestianni, 20, was caught up in a bust-up with Real Madrid’s Vinicius Jr in the first leg of the UEFA Champions League playoffs tie. The Argentine forward allegedly said slurs to Vinicius, who, together with teammate Kylian Mbappe, took the matter to the referee and caused a stoppage in the game.
The stoppage lasted for ten minutes, in which Mourinho was seen defending his player and confronting the Real Madrid players. After the match, Mourinho continued to defend his player and team while accusing Vinicius of inciting the Benfica players and fans.
The matter is before UEFA, who could ban Prestianni for up to 10 games if he is found guilty of Vinicius’ accusations.
Mourinho, meanwhile, has kept quiet on the issue until recently. As Benfica prepared for a Portuguese first division game on Monday against Gil Vicente, the legendary manager was asked about the issue at a press conference.
“If he is indeed guilty, I will no longer look at him the same way, and it will be over with me. I absolutely condemn all forms of discrimination and idiocy,” Mourinho, who managed Real Madrid in the past, said.
“If my player has not respected the principles, which are mine and those of Benfica, his career will end with me.”
The Portuguese tactician’s comments have received many interpretations, with some on social media positing that Mourinho could run Prestianni out of the game.
Meanwhile, Benfica have released a statement defending their player, stating, “Sport Lisboa e Benfica categorically denies that the player Prestianni has communicated to the squad or the club’s structure that he has uttered a racist insult to the player Vinicius Jr. from Real Madrid.
“As has already been made public, the player apologised to his teammates for the incident that occurred during the match against Real Madrid, regretting the dimension and consequences of it and assuring everyone, as he has done since the first hour, that he is not racist.”
Prestianni has also publicly denied the allegations, saying his opponent had “misinterpreted.”
Madrid progressed to the next round of the Champions League, however, defeating Benfica 3 – 1 on aggregate after a 1 – 0 victory on the night of the incident at the Benfica Stadium and a 2 – 1 win at their home ground. They will now face Manchester City in the round of 16 following the draws held on Friday.
