Quick Read
- Jose Mourinho will not hold press conferences before or after Benfica’s Champions League match against Real Madrid.
- This follows his controversial remarks regarding alleged racist abuse directed at Vinicius Jr in the first leg.
- UEFA has provisionally banned Benfica’s Gianluca Prestianni for one match as investigations into the racism allegations continue.
- Mourinho’s assistant, Joao Tralhao, will handle media duties due to a UEFA loophole after Mourinho received a red card in the first leg.
- Benfica faces Real Madrid at the Bernabéu with a 1-0 deficit in the Champions League knockout playoff return leg.
MADRID (Azat TV) – Jose Mourinho, the head coach of Benfica, will not speak to the media before or after his team’s crucial Champions League knockout playoff return leg against Real Madrid on Wednesday, February 25, 2026. This decision comes in the wake of controversial remarks Mourinho made following the first leg, where Real Madrid forward Vinicius Jr alleged he was subjected to racist abuse, prompting a UEFA investigation.
Benfica travels to the Santiago Bernabéu facing a 1-0 deficit from the first leg. Despite the high stakes, Mourinho has opted to exercise a UEFA rule allowing him to avoid mandatory media duties, a move that has drawn significant attention given the ongoing fallout from the racism allegations.
Controversial Remarks by Jose Mourinho Spark Debate
The controversy stems from the first leg encounter on February 17, 2026, at the Estadio da Luz. During that match, Vinicius Jr scored the winning goal for Real Madrid but shortly after refused to continue playing, claiming he received racial abuse from Benfica’s Gianluca Prestianni. Play was halted for approximately 10 minutes as officials intervened, with Mourinho seen speaking to Vinicius Jr and Kylian Mbappe.
In the aftermath of the game, Mourinho offered a contentious perspective, stating, “There is something wrong because it happens in every stadium. Every stadium that Vinicius plays [in] something happens. Always.” He also recounted his conversation with Vinicius Jr during the stoppage, saying he advised the player to “just celebrate and walk back” after scoring. Mourinho added, “when he was arguing about racism I told him the biggest person in the history of this club was black [Eusebio]. This club, the last thing it is is racist, so if in his mind it was something in relation to that, this is Benfica.” These comments, reported by The Mirror, have been widely debated.
UEFA Investigation and Player Statements
Following the incident, UEFA launched an investigation into the allegations of discriminatory behavior. As a result, Gianluca Prestianni has been handed a provisional one-match ban, meaning he will miss the decisive second leg. Benfica, in an official statement, expressed regret at being deprived of the player while the process is ongoing and confirmed they would appeal the decision. The club reaffirmed its “unwavering commitment to combating all forms of racism and discrimination.”
Vinicius Jr quickly issued his own statement, asserting, “Racists are, above all, cowards. They need to put their shirts in their mouths to show how weak they are.” He also noted, “Nothing that happened today is new in my life or in my team’s life. I received a yellow card for celebrating a goal. I still don’t understand why.” While Vinicius Jr alleged racist abuse, ESPN reported that Prestianni, in his defense to UEFA, claimed he used homophobic language towards the Brazilian international, not a racist slur, adding another layer of complexity to the investigation.
Mourinho’s Media Blackout Explained by UEFA Rules
Sources including Sky Sports News and AS.com confirmed that Mourinho will not hold press conferences on Tuesday or Wednesday. Instead, his assistant, Joao Tralhao, will fulfill the media duties. This decision is permissible under UEFA regulations, specifically Article 79.04 and 80.04, which state that if a head coach is suspended for a match or sent off, the club has the option to make an assistant coach available for all obligatory media activities.
Mourinho was shown a red card in the first leg for a “furious tirade on the touchline,” protesting that Vinicius Jr should have received a second yellow card for a foul. This suspension for the return leg provides him with the loophole to avoid media scrutiny, a move reminiscent of his famous “I prefer not to speak” press conference from his past managerial career. While he is expected to be in attendance at the Bernabéu, he will not be allowed in the technical area or to communicate with his staff during the match.
Mourinho’s decision to remain silent before such a high-profile match, particularly amidst a sensitive racism investigation, inevitably shifts the narrative focus from the impending sporting contest to the underlying controversy and his handling of it.