By Paul Joseph
Chelsea’s head coach Liam Rosenior stated that anyone found guilty of racist behavior in football “shouldn’t be involved in the sport.”
UEFA has launched an investigation into allegations that Real Madrid’s Vinicius Jr was racially abused by Benfica’s Gianluca Prestianni during a Champions League match on Tuesday.
Prestianni, who denies the accusations, could face a suspension of at least 10 matches in European competitions if found guilty. Rosenior emphasized that any coach or player proven to be racist should be banned from the game.
When asked about the incident with Vinicius, Rosenior remarked, “If any player, coach, or manager is found guilty of racism, they shouldn’t be in the game. It’s that straightforward. It’s distressing. Context is always important, but any form of racism in society, not just in football, is unacceptable.
I can’t comment on an ongoing investigation, but when you see a player as upset as Vinicius Jr, there’s usually a valid reason for it.”
Benfica’s manager, Jose Mourinho, accused Vinicius of provoking the crowd with his goal celebration during Real’s 1-0 victory in Lisbon.
While Rosenior refrained from directly addressing Mourinho’s remarks, he defended Vinicius. “I have experienced racial abuse myself.
People need to realize that being judged for something you should take pride in is an incredibly painful experience,” Rosenior said.
On Wednesday, Benfica defended Prestianni on social media, claiming there was a “defamation campaign” against the Argentine player.
The Portuguese club shared a video of the alleged incident on their X account, stating, “Given the distance, the Real Madrid players could not have heard what they claim to have heard.”
When asked about the changes needed to combat racism in football and society, Rosenior responded, “There are many factors; this is a complex issue regarding race and gender. Society needs to change in numerous ways. It honestly disgusts me.
This is a broader conversation than just football; there needs to be greater accountability for actions that must be eliminated. There is a lot of division, and many in the media make prejudgments based on people’s sexual orientation, nationality, religion, or skin color.
This is a larger issue than just football. People should be held more accountable, particularly on social media and in the press, to ensure these issues are addressed, as everyone deserves to be judged based on their character.”
West Ham manager Nuno Espirito Santo, who has ties to Benfica’s rival Porto, stated that racism must be “eradicated globally.” “I condemn it. There is no place for it in football or society,” he said.
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