Benfica coach José Mourinho is facing mounting criticism after suggesting Vinícius Júnior’s goal celebration helped provoke the racist abuse the Real Madrid forward says he suffered during a Champions League clash in Lisbon.

The match was halted for around 10 minutes after Vinícius accused Benfica’s Gianluca Prestianni of calling him a monkey following his second-half goal. Cameras showed the Argentinian forward covering his mouth with his shirt during the exchange. Prestianni has denied the allegation, but UEFA has appointed a special investigator, and the 20-year-old could face a 10-match ban if found guilty under disciplinary rules.

Mourinho spoke to both players on the pitch during the stoppage and later said he did not know who was telling the truth. Asked whether Vinícius had incited the home crowd by dancing by the corner flag, Mourinho replied that the Brazilian “should have been carried off on his teammates’ shoulders, and not messed with 60,000 people in this stadium.”

He then appeared to link the incident to previous racist abuse Vinícius has endured in Spain, asking in how many stadiums such episodes had occurred and questioning why the forward did not celebrate “like Eusebio, Pelé, or Di Stéfano.”

Those remarks drew a sharp rebuke from former Real Madrid midfielder Clarence Seedorf, now working as a pundit. “I think he made a big mistake today to justify racial abuse,” Seedorf said. “He said wherever he goes these things happen, so he’s saying it’s OK when Vinícius provokes you, that it is OK to be racist and I think that is very wrong. We should never, ever justify racial abuse.”

Real Madrid star Kylian Mbappé backed his teammate, insisting he heard Prestianni use the slur repeatedly. “I believe Kylian,” said Thierry Henry, working as an analyst. The former France and Arsenal forward questioned why Prestianni had covered his mouth if nothing had been said and condemned attempts to shift attention onto Vinícius’ behaviour. “Enough is enough,” Henry said. “We are here to score goals or make people happy but then when someone is getting hurt we don’t act, we victimise the guy.”

Anti-discrimination organisation Kick It Out also criticised the focus on Vinícius’ celebration, calling it “a form of gaslighting” and urging football’s leaders to show “responsible leadership that reinforces respect, inclusion, and accountability.”