Bayern Munich manager Vincent Kompany has condemned Jose Mourinho for his comments following the alleged racial abuse directed at Real Madrid winger Vinicius Jr during their Champions League victory over Benfica. Vinicius Jr scored the only goal of the match and was cautioned for his celebration, which led to a temporary halt when he reported receiving racist abuse from Benfica's Gianluca Prestianni, who has denied the allegations. UEFA is currently investigating the matter, which highlights ongoing issues of racism in football.

Mourinho, who received a red card towards the end of the match for arguing with officials, described Vinicius' celebration as "disrespectful" and defended Benfica's club identity by referencing the team's storied past and former player Eusebio, asserting that the club is not racist. However, this defense was met with backlash as many believe it undermines the serious nature of the allegations against Prestianni and discredits Vinicius’ experience.

In response, Kompany labeled Mourinho's comments as both a "huge mistake" and "unacceptable," emphasizing the struggles Black players have faced in football over the decades. He has called for introspection within the football community to address racism decisively. The incident not only points to the racial tensions still prevalent in the sport but also calls into question the responsibilities of high-profile managers in discussing such sensitive topics.