URGENT UPDATE: Vincent Kompany has publicly condemned José Mourinho for making “unacceptable” remarks following the tense match between Benfica and Real Madrid on July 15, 2023. The comments pertained to alleged racist abuse directed at Brazilian forward Vinicius Junior, who scored the only goal in Real Madrid’s 1-0 victory.
The game was temporarily halted for ten minutes after Vinicius reported alleged racist insults from Benfica’s winger, Giovanni Prestiani. UEFA has since launched an investigation into these claims, which Prestiani vehemently denies. The situation escalated when Mourinho was sent off late in the match for arguing with the referee, further complicating the atmosphere.
Kompany, the Bayern Munich manager, criticized Mourinho’s approach during a press conference ahead of Bayern’s match against Eintracht Frankfurt, stating, “After the game, you have the leader of the organization, José Mourinho, essentially attacking the character of Vinicius.” He emphasized that such actions are damaging and should not be tolerated.
The Belgian coach expressed his concern over Mourinho’s remarks about Vinicius’ goal celebration and his reference to club legend Eusébio as evidence that Benfica is not a racist club. “Do you know what black players had to endure in the 1960s? Was he (Mourinho) there to travel with Eusébio to every away game?” Kompany remarked, highlighting the historical context of racism in football.
Kompany further elaborated, “For me, in terms of leadership, that is a huge mistake and something we should not accept.” He noted the struggles faced by previous generations of players, indicating that using Eusébio’s name as a defense is misguided.
Mourinho has yet to respond directly to Kompany’s criticism, choosing instead to discuss the match’s challenges in a statement to the club’s channel. He acknowledged the emotional toll the incidents had taken, saying, “It was a really demanding match in every aspect… but from the 51st minute onwards, it hasn’t been easy emotionally to deal with everything that has happened.”
Kompany maintained his respect for Mourinho, stating he has heard nothing but praise about him from former players. “I understand he is fighting for his team and his club. You cannot be a bad person while all your former players speak positively about you,” he said. However, he reiterated that Mourinho’s comments were a significant error.
This developing story highlights ongoing issues of racism in football, reminding fans and players alike of the urgent need for a united front against discrimination. As UEFA continues its investigation, all eyes will be on how the situation unfolds and what actions are taken by both clubs involved.
Stay tuned for more updates as this situation evolves.
