Liam Rosenior Calls for Lifetime Ban on Racist Footballers
Chelsea head coach Liam Rosenior urges stronger action against racism in football after Vinicius Junior's alleged abuse.
“There are a lot of things need to change in our society. I'm not talking about football. There's a lot of division...”
Chelsea boss Liam Rosenior is calling for stricter action against racism in football, stating that anyone found guilty should be banned from the sport. This comes after Real Madrid's Vinicius Junior alleged he was racially abused by Benfica's Gianluca Prestianni during a Champions League match, leading to a 10-minute game stoppage.
Rosenior, who has experienced racial abuse himself, emphasized that racism has no place in society or football. He's urging authorities to hold individuals accountable, especially on social media and in the press. UEFA is investigating the incident, and Real Madrid has provided evidence to support Vinicius' claim.
Gianluca Prestianni, the Argentine midfielder, denies allegations of racially abusing Vinicius Junior after covering his mouth during an argument following Vinicius' goal celebration against Benfica. UEFA has launched an investigation into the incident, citing “allegations of discriminatory behaviour.”
Vinicius, who has faced repeated racist abuse since joining Real Madrid in 2018, accused Prestianni of calling him a “monkey” during the confrontation. The incident led to a 10-minute delay in the match, with Real Madrid players and fans expressing outrage and support for Vinicius.
Rosenior, who has experienced racism himself, stressed that accountability is key, especially on social media and in the press. He's urging authorities to take a stronger stance, saying “If any coach, player or manager is ever found guilty of racism, they shouldn't be in the game.”
“It's upsetting,” he said Thursday. “There's context that needs to be had in terms of this situation. What I will say, any form of racism in society is unacceptable. I cannot speak about an incident where an investigation is ongoing.
“What I would say is when you see a player upset how Vinicius Junior was upset, normally they're upset for a reason. I've been racially abused myself.”
Rosenior, who is of mixed heritage, added: “If any coach, player or manager is ever found guilty of racism, they shouldn't be in the game. It's as simple as that for me.”
Liam Rosenior, Chelsea's manager, penned an open letter to Donald Trump in June 2020, criticizing America's “unjust, corrupt and fundamentally prejudiced society” amidst the Black Lives Matter protests following George Floyd's murder. He highlighted the centuries-old legacy of racism in the US, sparking global outrage and calls for change.
In a separate incident, Chelsea fans faced homophobic slurs from Hull supporters during last week's FA Cup match, prompting Rosenior to condemn such behavior. He emphasized that racism and discrimination have no place in football or society, urging authorities to take stronger action.
"It's as simple as that for me"
— Sky Sports News (@SkySportsNews) February 19, 2026
Liam Rosenior says any person involved in football found guilty of racism should not be in the game. pic.twitter.com/PrWpbKeguc
Chelsea boss Liam Rosenior emphasized the need for societal change, saying, “There are a lot of things need to change in our society. I'm not talking about football. There's a lot of division. There's a lot of people in the media make prejudgements on people based on sexual orientation, what country they come from, what religion they are, what colour skin they have.”
Rosenior's comments come amid the ongoing investigation into alleged racist abuse of Real Madrid's Vinicius Junior during a Champions League match. He stressed that anyone found guilty of racism “shouldn't be in the game,” highlighting the need for accountability and stricter actions against discriminatory behavior.
“I'm not talking about football. There's a lot of division. There's a lot of people in the media make prejudgements on people based on sexual orientation, what country they come from, what religion they are, what colour skin they have.
"It sickens me, to be honest. It's a wider debate than just football. People need to be held a lot more accountable than they are in terms of social media, in terms of the press, to make sure these things are stamped out.”
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