Mourinho's Bernabeu Return Spoiled by Suspension and Vinicius Junior Racism Row

Mourinho's controversial Bernabeu return

Jose Mourinho's Champions League return to Santiago Bernabeu with Benfica complicated by suspension and controversy over Vinicius Junior racial abuse allegations.

Jose Mourinho faces Real Madrid with Benfica, amid suspension and backlash over comments on Vinicius Junior racial abuse incident...

Jose Mourinho's return to the Santiago Bernabeu stadium won't be as triumphant as expected. He's been suspended from sitting in the dugout for Benfica's Champions League second-leg match against Real Madrid on Wednesday, following his red card in the first leg.

The controversy surrounding Mourinho's suspension is further complicated by the alleged racial abuse of Real Madrid's Vinicius Junior by Benfica's Gianluca Prestianni. Mourinho has faced criticism for his comments suggesting Vinicius may have provoked the abuse with his goal celebration. UEFA has suspended Prestianni for one game, pending investigation into the incident.

The 63-year-old faced criticism for his comments following alleged racial abuse against Real Madrid's Vinicius Junior by Benfica midfielder Gianluca Prestianni. Prestianni, an Argentine, will miss the second leg after UEFA suspended him for one game pending an investigation.

Gianluca Prestianni, 19, is under investigation for allegedly racially abusing Vinicius Junior during a Champions League match. The incident has sparked widespread outrage, with many calling for stricter penalties against such behavior.

Mourinho had a successful stint with Real Madrid, winning LaLiga during his three-year tenure. His time at the club was marked by intense rivalry with Barcelona and internal divisions.

Read Madrid's president, Florentino Perez, is a big fan of Mourinho, and there's speculation he might be hired next season if things go badly for the team under Alvaro Arbeloa.

The Spaniard, Alvaro Arbeloa, is facing his biggest test as Benfica's coach since taking over from Xabi Alonso in January. He's now preparing for the second leg of the Champions League playoff against Real Madrid at the Santiago Bernabeu stadium.

Arbeloa, who was part of Mourinho's team during his successful tenure at Real Madrid, will have to navigate the intense atmosphere and the absence of Gianluca Prestianni, who was suspended for the match due to alleged racial abuse of Vinicius Junior. Mourinho himself was sent off in the first leg for arguing with the referee and won't be on the bench for this crucial match.

The coach, Alvaro Arbeloa, claimed that referee Francois Letexier was being lenient on Real Madrid players who are at risk of suspension for the second leg, saying he was avoiding booking them.

“I've had my butt on the bench for 1,400 games and (I could see that) he knew perfectly well who he could book and who he couldn't,” complained Mourinho bitterly.

“I (won't be) sitting on the bench, I can't go to the dressing room, I can't communicate with the team,” he added. “It's hard for me, but my teammates and my assistants are there, they'll do their job.”

Prestianni Suspended for One Game Amid Ongoing Investigation

Gianluca Prestianni, the Benfica player, has been provisionally suspended for one game by UEFA following allegations of racial abuse against Real Madrid's Vinicius Junior. The suspension means Prestianni will miss the second leg of the Champions League playoff against Real Madrid.

Possible 10-Game Ban if Found Guilty

If UEFA's investigation finds Prestianni guilty of racial abuse, he could face a minimum 10-game ban. The incident occurred during the first leg, where Vinicius scored the only goal, and Prestianni allegedly directed a racial slur at him. Prestianni has denied the allegations, claiming Vinicius misinterpreted his words.

Gianluca Prestianni, the 20-year-old Benfica midfielder, has denied allegations of racially abusing Real Madrid's Vinicius Junior. He claims he didn't make any racist comments and that Vinicius misinterpreted what he said. Prestianni covered his mouth with his shirt during the confrontation, which was sparked by Vinicius' celebration after scoring a goal.

José Mourinho de retour au Bernabéu. 🇵🇹🏟️🔙pic.twitter.com/KNTjLuLOQr

— Instant Foot ⚽️ (@lnstantFoot) February 24, 2026

Benfica's coach, Jose Mourinho, stated that he spoke with both players, and they gave him different accounts of what happened. Mourinho seemed to suggest that Vinicius might have overreacted to Prestianni's words, but UEFA has provisionally suspended Prestianni for one match pending further investigation.

Mourinho sparked controversy by suggesting Vinicius's goal celebration was provocative and implying Benfica wasn't racist because their icon Eusebio was black.

Former Netherlands midfielder Clarence Seedorf criticized Mourinho's comments, saying it's wrong to justify racism, regardless of Vinicius's actions.

Real Madrid defender Trent Alexander-Arnold condemned the alleged racial abuse of Vinicius Junior, saying it's a “disgrace to football.“ “We should never, ever justify racial abuse,” he emphasized.

The incident, which led to a 10-minute pause in the game, will loom large over the second leg as Madrid seeks to avoid an early exit against Mourinho's Benfica. Alexander-Arnold's strong stance reflects the team's determination to tackle racism in football.