Benfica’s head coach Jose Mourinho (L) speaks with Real Madrid’s Vinicius Junior who walked off the pitch after dennouncing racism in the stands to the referee during the UEFA Champions League soccer match between Benfica and Real Madrid, in Lisbon, Portugal, 17 February 2026. EPA/JOSE SENA GOULAO
Saturday Feb 21, 2026. 15:13
Former South African international and current head coach of the Kenyan national team Benni McCarthy has called on Benfica coach Jose Mourinho to admit he made a mistake after the manager’s comments surrounding the alleged racial abuse of Real Madrid’s Vinicius Junior.
The real Madrid star was allegedly subject to racist comments from Benfica’s Gianluca Prestianni in Real Madrid’s 1-0 UEFA Champions League victory against Benfica at the Estádio da Luz in Lisbon on Tuesday.
In response to the allegations, Prestianni denied having said anything racist, stating in a now-deleted Instagram post that his words were misheard by the Madrid players.
Mourinho denied his player having said anything racist, citing the fact the club’s greatest ever player, Eusebio, was black as an explanation for how none of the club’s players could be racist.
In addition, the club defended Prestianni, calling the allegations a “smear campaign” and stating:
“The club clearly and unequivocally reaffirms its historic and uncompromising commitment to defending the values of equality, respect, and inclusion, which are in line with the core values of its foundation and are best symbolized by Eusébio.”
Speaking to the BBC World Service, McCarthy, who won the Champions League under Mourinho at Porto in the 2003/04 season, defended the coach’s character while simultaneously calling for him to acknowledge the harm caused by his comments.
“The situation, he could have handled it better or chosen his words better but emotions got the better of him,” said McCarthy.
“When it comes from somebody I know personally and I know how he feels about our continent and our people and the players that play for him, he’s the most stand-up guy that any African player will ever play for.”
“I think it was an emotional decision where he maybe made a call and it wasn’t the right call – which he will later, hopefully, come out and say that he made a mistake. That’s what I would like to think. That’s the kind of man he is.”
The former Porto striker was not the only established name in football to call Mourinho out, with former Manchester City captain and Bayern Munich manager Vincent Kompany calling the [Mourinho age]’s comments a “huge mistake”.
UEFA’s investigation into the incident is ongoing, with no guilt or punishment leveled against Prestianni yet.
By Nic Gleeson