Feb 19 β€’ 13:07 UTC πŸ‡¬πŸ‡§ UK Mirror

Jose Mourinho BANS Real Madrid talk at Benfica after racism storm as boss slammed

Jose Mourinho has prohibited any discussions about Real Madrid among his Benfica players following an incident involving racism allegations against Benfica's Gianluca Prestianni.

Jose Mourinho has taken a definitive stance at Benfica by banning discussions regarding Real Madrid among his players after a racism incident during their Champions League clash. The controversy erupted when Real Madrid's Vinicius Junior accused Benfica’s Gianluca Prestianni of directing a racial slur at him, a claim that Prestianni has firmly denied. This incident has received widespread media attention and sparked outrage, particularly given the sensitive nature of racism in sports.

The situation has escalated further with UEFA launching an investigation into the allegations, highlighting the importance of addressing racism in football. Vinicius claims he was called a "monkey" by Prestianni, an accusation that has been supported by his teammate Kylian Mbappe. Prestianni, on the other hand, maintains that Vinicius has misinterpreted his words, leading to a significant amount of scrutiny directed at both players and their respective clubs.

As the Champions League rematch approaches, with Real Madrid currently leading 1-0, Mourinho's decision to prohibit any Madrid-related discussions reflects his intent to shield his players from distractions and focus on the game ahead. This development not only underscores the continuous struggles with racism in football but also shows how seriously clubs and managers are beginning to take these issues as they affect team dynamics and performance on the pitch.

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