Bayern Munich coach Vincent Kompany has criticised Jose Mourinho’s handling of the racism allegations involving Real Madrid forward Vinicius Junior, calling the Benfica coach’s post-match comments a “huge mistake.”
Vinicius accused Benfica midfielder Gianluca Prestianni of calling him a “monkey” during Real Madrid’s 1-0 win in Lisbon on Tuesday. After the match, Mourinho criticised Vinicius for allegedly provoking Benfica players and fans with his goal celebration. UEFA has confirmed it will investigate “allegations of discriminatory behaviour.”
“What I found most troubling was what unfolded off the pitch,” Kompany said Friday. “You have the leader of an organisation, Jose Mourinho, who basically attacks the character of Vinicius Junior… To discredit what Vinicius is doing at this moment… it’s a huge mistake and it’s something that we should not accept.”
Kompany emphasised that attention should remain on Vinicius’ emotional response to the alleged abuse. “His reaction cannot be faked… He goes to the referee because he’s doing the right thing in that moment,” he said.
Acknowledging the difficulty in proving the allegations without Prestianni’s admission, Kompany said, “Unless the player himself comes forward, it’s a difficult case.” He also stressed the importance of accountability and space for apology if the claims are confirmed.
Regarding Mourinho, Kompany added, “He’s made a mistake. Hopefully in the future it won’t happen like this again and that we can move forward and grow.”
