Benfica head coach Jose Mourinho has blasted Vinicius jr for his goal celebration that sparked racism claims during their Champions League Knockout Round Playoff first leg in Portugal, MySportDab reports.
The intense clash descended into chaos and a discomfiting hiatus that lasted for several minutes after Vinicius Jr celebrated his wonder goal by dancing close to the flag at the corner area.
His celebration apparently resulted in the Benfica fans hurling racial slurs at him, leading to his decision to walk off the field and call the attention of the referee to the incident.
The Brazilian also alleged that Benfica and Argentine defender Prestiani called him a monkey after the dancing celebration, gesturing to the center referee to take a decision.
This fallout led to the match being halted for minutes to calm the situation before the referee resumed play under intense conditions.
Reacting to the incident, Jose Mourinho appeared to take a somewhat controversial position, blaming Vinicius Jr for the unsavory incident.
He questioned why the Brazilian decided to celebrate his goal by dancing at the corner flag – an overture that is considered offensive and disrespectful to the opposition team.
“Why Vini Jr didn’t celebrate like Di Stefano, Pelé or Eusebio? You score that super goal and then… why?”
Mourinho also went on to question the incessant incidents of alleged racism incidents that has revolved around Vinicius Jr.
“This is always happening with him. This is the only thing I’m not understanding,” he said about Vini after the match.
“When it happens in so many stadiums, always with the same, there is something wrong”.
Away from the chaos, Real Madrid ran out narrow 1–0 winners in the match, courtesy of Vinicius jr’s solitary strike, carrying a crucial advantage into the leg in Santiago Bernabeu next week.
