Thibaut Courtois, the Real Madrid goalkeeper, has publicly criticized comments made by Jose Mourinho concerning Vinicius Junior's celebrations. Mourinho's remarks came in the wake of an incident during a Champions League match where Vinicius Jr allegedly faced racial abuse. Courtois expressed his discontent with Mourinho's comments, emphasizing that they should not detract from the serious nature of the abuse his teammate suffered.

In the match against Benfica, Vinicius Junior scored the only goal, but the game was overshadowed by an incident involving alleged racial abuse directed at him. As tension mounted, the match was temporarily halted for 10 minutes while the incidents were addressed, with Vinicius Jr visibly affected and ultimately leaving the pitch. UEFA has since stepped in, initiating an investigation into the matter, and the player involved in the allegations, Gianluca Prestianni, has been provisionally suspended pending the outcome of the investigation.

This incident has sparked broader discussions about racism within football, and Courtois's defense of Vinicius is seen as part of an ongoing effort by players and organizations to combat racism in the sport. The implications of Mourinho's comments could further ignite tensions within the football community as it grapples with how to respond effectively to issues of racism and player treatment both on and off the pitch.