Jose Mourinho: Benfica boss says Gianluca Prestianni's career at Portuguese club over if guilty of racially abusing Vinicius Jr

Jose Mourinho says Gianluca Prestianni will no longer play for Benfica if he is found guilty of racially abusing Vinicius Junior.

Speaking on Sunday Mourinho, who was criticised for his initial comments in the aftermath of the first leg of the Champions League knockout play-off last month, said he was "completely, utterly opposed to any kind of discrimination or prejudice or ignorance or stupidity".

Prestianni is being investigated by UEFA and was suspended for last week's return leg in Madrid, with Benfica losing their appeal against that ban. Prestianni has denied the allegations but faces a lengthy ban if found guilty.

Mourinho added: "If my player did not respect these principles, which are mine and Benfica's as well, then that player's career with a coach named Jose Mourinho and at a club named Benfica will come to an end.

"I am not a scholar, but I am not ignorant either. The presumption of innocence is a human right, isn't it?

"I stand by my opinion. If the player is indeed guilty, I will never look at him the way I looked at him before, and with me, it's over.

"But I have to put many 'ifs' in front of it."

What Mourinho originally said on the incident...

Vinicius Jr initially refused to continue the first leg between the teams last Tuesday after the incident with Prestianni.

The Madrid forward had just given his side the lead - after which he was booked for celebrating in front of the Benfica fans - when he was confronted by Prestianni, who pulled his shirt up over his mouth before saying something.

Vinicius Jr ran to speak to the match referee Francois Letexier, who immediately stopped the game. The referee responded by crossing ​his arms in front of his ⁠face, activating FIFA's anti-racism protocol.

Speaking to Amazon Prime after the match, Mourinho said: "I told [Vinicius Jnr], when you score a goal like that you just celebrate and walk back. They [Vinicius Jr and Prestianni] told me different things. But I don't believe in one or another. I want to be an independent.

"When he was arguing about racism, I told him the biggest person [Eusebio] in the history of this club was black.

"This club, the last thing that it is, is racist."

Vinicius has spoken out multiple times against racism he has been subjected to inside stadiums. In June 2024, three Valencia fans were jailed for eight months for racially abusing him during a LaLiga game the previous year, in the first verdict of its kind in Spain.

"There is something wrong because it happens in every stadium," said Mourinho. "A stadium where Vinicius plays something happens, always."

Mourinho was seen speaking to a visibly upset Vinicius Jr and a member of the Benfica coaching staff was shown a red card during the lengthy stoppage.

Mourinho was also sent off for a separate incident, meaning he was suspended for the second leg which Benfica lost 2-1, going out 3-1 on aggregate, and he wasn't obliged to speak to the media before or after that match.

'Prestianni facing 10-game ban'

Sky Sports News' Kaveh Solhekol:

UEFA has moved very quickly to suspend Prestianni. They appointed an ethics inspector last Wednesday to look into allegations that Prestianni had racially abused Vinicius Jr the previous evening.

The inspector has already spoken to the relevant parties and forwarded an interim report to UEFA's disciplinary body, recommending Prestianni is suspended for one game while the disciplinary process continues.

The inspector believes there is prima facie evidence that Prestianni has broken UEFA's regulations on discriminatory behaviour, which carries a minimum 10-game ban.

UEFA says the provisional ban is without prejudice, which means Prestianni can still expect a fair hearing.

Mbappe explains what he heard

Real Madrid striker Kylian Mbappe said in an interview after the game that he heard Prestianni racially abuse his team-mate and said the Benfica winger should not be allowed to play in the Champions League.

"I know everything," the France international said after the game. "I will explain everything that happened.

"Vinicius scored a goal - an amazing goal. He goes to dance and the people boo him. That's something that happens in football. After that, there's a moment of tension with the Benfica players. It's better if it doesn't happen, but this can happen too.

"It's the Champions League, the best competition in the world for clubs. So, it's normal that people want to win, to give their best for their club and their fans and defend their colours.

"After that, Benfica's No 25 - I don't want to say his name because he doesn't deserve it - starts to talk badly. You don't accept it but, again, it happens in football and it will continue to happen.

"He put his shirt here [over his mouth] to say Vinicius is a ****** five times. I heard it. There are Benfica players who heard it as well. And after that point, everything you have seen started.

"I want to try and explain it calmly. I don't want to speak in a general manner. I have come to Portugal many times. I have been lucky to have many team-mates and friends from Portugal, and nothing has ever happened to me.

"With these kind of things, it's very important to speak in a very clear way, and to not speak in general, because there are people who haven't done anything wrong. In the stadium, I think there are 70,000 people who haven't done anything wrong. They just wanted to support their team.

"I have the maximum respect for Benfica and their manager, who is one of the best in history, who has made history at Real Madrid.

"But this player, for me, doesn't deserve to play in the Champions League anymore.

"It's a wonderful thing to play in the Champions League. The best competition. Everyone here, all the journalists, loves the Champions League, no? It inspires me as a player, it inspires the people, it inspires children, and we have to give the best possible example to young people.

"If we let this kind of thing happen, I think all the values of football are worthless, all that we believe is worthless. We have to do something."

(c) Sky Sports 2026: Jose Mourinho: Benfica boss says Gianluca Prestianni's career at Portuguese club over if guilty of racially abusing Vinicius Jr