Kompany says Mourinho made 'huge mistake' in Vinicius racism row
Benfica's Portuguese head coach Jose Mourinho runs on to the pitch to retrieve loose ball during the UEFA Champions League, league phase football match between Chelsea and Benfica at Stamford Bridge in London on September 30, 2025. (Photo by Adrian Dennis / AFP) Related content Photos fbl - eur - c1 - chelsea - benfica Benfica's Portuguese head coach Jose Mourinho reacts during the UEFA Champions League, league phase football match between Chelsea and Benfica at Stamford Bridge in London on September 30, 2025. fbl - eur - c1 - chelsea - benfica Benfica's Portuguese head coach Jose Mourinho reacts during the UEFA Champions League, league phase football match between Chelsea and Benfica at Stamford Bridge in London on September 30, 2025. fbl - eur - c1 - chelsea - benfica fbl - eur - c1 - chelsea - benfica fbl - eur - c1 - chelsea - benfica fbl - eur - c1 - chelsea - benfica Chelsea's Brazilian midfielder #41 Estevao runs with the ball during the UEFA Champions League, league phase football match between Chelsea and Benfica at Stamford Bridge in London on September 30, 2025. fbl - eur - c1 - chelsea - benfica German referee Daniel Siebert shows a yellow card to Benfica's Argentinian defender #30 Nicolas Otamendi (unseen) during the UEFA Champions League, league phase football match between Chelsea and Benfica at Stamford Bridge in London on September 30, 2025. fbl - 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eur - c1 - chelsea - benfica fbl - eur - c1 - chelsea - benfica fbl - eur - c1 - chelsea - benfica fbl - eur - c1 - chelsea - benfica Benfica's Colombian midfielder #20 Richard Rios (R) vies with Chelsea's Argentinian midfielder #08 Enzo Fernandez during the UEFA Champions League, league phase football match between Chelsea and Benfica at Stamford Bridge in London on September 30, 2025. fbl - eur - c1 - chelsea - benfica Chelsea's Spanish goalkeeper #01 Robert Sanchez reacts during the UEFA Champions League, league phase football match between Chelsea and Benfica at Stamford Bridge in London on September 30, 2025. fbl - eur - c1 - chelsea - benfica fbl - eur - c1 - chelsea - benfica fbl - eur - c1 - chelsea - benfica fbl - eur - c1 - chelsea - benfica Benfica's Colombian midfielder #20 Richard Rios reacts after scoring an own goal during the UEFA Champions League, league phase football match between Chelsea and Benfica at Stamford Bridge in London on September 30, 2025. fbl - eur - c1 - 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eur - c1 - chelsea - benfica Benfica's Swedish defender #26 Samuel Dahl (C) clears the ball from the feet of Chelsea's Portuguese midfielder #07 Pedro Neto during the UEFA Champions League, league phase football match between Chelsea and Benfica at Stamford Bridge in London on September 30, 2025. fbl - eur - c1 - chelsea - benfica Benfica's Argentinian midfielder #05 Enzo Barrenechea (R) vies with Chelsea's Argentinian midfielder #40 Facundo Buonanotte during the UEFA Champions League, league phase football match between Chelsea and Benfica at Stamford Bridge in London on September 30, 2025. fbl - eur - c1 - chelsea - benfica Benfica's Argentinian defender #30 Nicolas Otamendi controls the ball during the UEFA Champions League, league phase football match between Chelsea and Benfica at Stamford Bridge in London on September 30, 2025. fbl - eur - c1 - chelsea - benfica fbl - eur - c1 - chelsea - benfica fbl - eur - c1 - chelsea - benfica fbl - eur - c1 - chelsea - benfica Chelsea's Argentinian midfielder #08 Enzo Fernandez (L) vies with Benfica's Colombian midfielder #20 Richard Rios during the UEFA Champions League, league phase football match between Chelsea and Benfica at Stamford Bridge in London on September 30, 2025. fbl - eur - c1 - chelsea - benfica Benfica's Bosnian defender #17 Amar Dedic falls over the barrier during the UEFA Champions League, league phase football match between Chelsea and Benfica at Stamford Bridge in London on September 30, 2025. fbl - eur - c1 - chelsea - benfica Chelsea's Italian head coach Enzo Maresca shouts instructions to his players from the touchline during the UEFA Champions League, league phase football match between Chelsea and Benfica at Stamford Bridge in London on September 30, 2025. fbl - eur - c1 - chelsea - benfica Chelsea's Ecuadorian midfielder #25 Moises Caicedo (R) chases down Benfica's Belgian midfielder #11 Dodi Lukébakio during the UEFA Champions League, league phase football match between Chelsea and Benfica at Stamford Bridge in London on September 30, 2025. fbl - eur - c1 - chelsea - benfica Chelsea's French defender #27 Malo Gusto (L) and Chelsea's Portuguese midfielder #07 Pedro Neto (R) vie with Benfica's Ukrainian midfielder #10 Heorhiy Sudakov during the UEFA Champions League, league phase football match between Chelsea and Benfica at Stamford Bridge in London on September 30, 2025. fbl - eur - c1 - chelsea - benfica The fourth official asks Benfica's Portuguese head coach Jose Mourinho to return to his own technical area during the UEFA Champions League, league phase football match between Chelsea and Benfica at Stamford Bridge in London on September 30, 2025. fbl - eur - c1 - chelsea - benfica The fourth official asks Benfica's Portuguese head coach Jose Mourinho to return to his own technical area during the UEFA Champions League, league phase football match between Chelsea and Benfica at Stamford Bridge in London on September 30, 2025. fbl - eur - c1 - chelsea - benfica Benfica's Portuguese head coach Jose Mourinho reacts during the UEFA Champions League, league phase football match between Chelsea and Benfica at Stamford Bridge in London on September 30, 2025. fbl - eur - c1 - chelsea - benfica Police officers stand on duty above a merchandise stall ahead of the UEFA Champions League, league phase football match between Chelsea and Benfica at Stamford Bridge in London on September 30, 2025. fbl - eur - c1 - chelsea - benfica A Deliveroo cycle rider passes Benfica fans stood outside an Italian restaurant ahead of the UEFA Champions League, league phase football match between Chelsea and Benfica at Stamford Bridge in London on September 30, 2025. fbl - eur - c1 - chelsea - benfica fbl - eur - c1 - chelsea - benfica fbl - eur - c1 - benfica - training fbl - eur - c1 - benfica - training Benfica's Portuguese head coach Jose Mourinho (C) takes a training session on the pitch at Stamford Bridge in London on September 29, 2025, on the eve of their UEFA Champions League league phase football match against Chelsea. fbl - eur - c1 - benfica - training Benfica's Portuguese head coach Jose Mourinho (R) takes a training session on the pitch at Stamford Bridge in London on September 29, 2025, on the eve of their UEFA Champions League league phase football match against Chelsea. fbl - eur - c1 - benfica - training Benfica players take part in a training session on the pitch at Stamford Bridge in London on September 29, 2025, on the eve of their UEFA Champions League league phase football match against Chelsea. fbl - eur - c1 - benfica - training Benfica players take part in a training session on the pitch at Stamford Bridge in London on September 29, 2025, on the eve of their UEFA Champions League league phase football match against Chelsea. fbl - eur - c1 - benfica - training Benfica players take part in a training session on the pitch at Stamford Bridge in London on September 29, 2025, on the eve of their UEFA Champions League league phase football match against Chelsea. fbl - eur - c1 - benfica - training Benfica's Portuguese head coach Jose Mourinho takes a training session on the pitch at Stamford Bridge in London on September 29, 2025, on the eve of their UEFA Champions League league phase football match against Chelsea. fbl - eur - c1 - benfica - training Benfica's Portuguese head coach Jose Mourinho takes a training session on the pitch at Stamford Bridge in London on September 29, 2025, on the eve of their UEFA Champions League league phase football match against Chelsea. fbl - eur - c1 - benfica - training Benfica's Portuguese head coach Jose Mourinho (R) takes a training session on the pitch at Stamford Bridge in London on September 29, 2025, on the eve of their UEFA Champions League league phase football match against Chelsea. fbl - eur - c1 - benfica - training fbl - eur - c1 - benfica - training fbl - eur - c1 - benfica - presser fbl - eur - c1 - benfica - presser Benfica's Portuguese head coach Jose Mourinho attends a press conference at Stamford Bridge in London on September 29, 2025, on the eve of their UEFA Champions League league phase football match against Chelsea. fbl - eur - c1 - benfica - presser Benfica's Portuguese head coach Jose Mourinho embraces a long-time Chelsea employee as he leaves after a press conference at Stamford Bridge in London on September 29, 2025, on the eve of their UEFA Champions League league phase football match against Chelsea. fbl - eur - c1 - benfica - presser Benfica's Portuguese head coach Jose Mourinho embraces a long-time Chelsea employee as he leaves after a press conference at Stamford Bridge in London on September 29, 2025, on the eve of their UEFA Champions League league phase football match against Chelsea. fbl - eur - c1 - benfica - presser Benfica's Portuguese head coach Jose Mourinho attends a press conference at Stamford Bridge in London on September 29, 2025, on the eve of their UEFA Champions League league phase football match against Chelsea. fbl - eur - c1 - benfica - presser Benfica's Portuguese head coach Jose Mourinho (R) attends a press conference at Stamford Bridge, as a photo of him as Chelsea's former manager holding a trophy, hangs on a wall, in London on September 29, 2025, on the eve of their UEFA Champions League league phase football match against Chelsea. fbl - eur - c1 - benfica - presser Benfica's Portuguese head coach Jose Mourinho attends a press conference at Stamford Bridge in London on September 29, 2025, on the eve of their UEFA Champions League league phase football match against Chelsea. fbl - eur - c1 - benfica - presser fbl - eur - c1 - benfica - presser Benfica's Portuguese head coach Jose Mourinho attends a press conference at Stamford Bridge in London on September 29, 2025, on the eve of their UEFA Champions League league phase football match against Chelsea. fbl - eur - c1 - benfica - presser fbl - eur - c1 - benfica - presser Benfica's Portuguese head coach Jose Mourinho attends a press conference at Stamford Bridge in London on September 29, 2025, on the eve of their UEFA Champions League league phase football match against Chelsea. fbl - eur - c1 - benfica - presser Benfica's Portuguese head coach Jose Mourinho attends a press conference at Stamford Bridge, as a photo of him as Chelsea's former manager holding a trophy, hangs on a wall, in London on September 29, 2025, on the eve of their UEFA Champions League league phase football match against Chelsea. fbl - eur - c1 - benfica - presser fbl - eur - c1 - benfica - presser fbl - eur - c1 - benfica - presser fbl - eur - c1 - benfica - presser fbl - eur - c1 - benfica - presser fbl - eur - c1 - benfica - presser fbl - eur - c1 - benfica - presser fbl - eur - c1 - benfica - presser fbl - eur - c1 - benfica - presser fbl - eur - c1 - benfica - presser A Sky Sports reporter speaks into the camera as they work beside a photo of Chelsea's former Portuguese head coach Jose Mourinho, ahead of a Benfica press conference at Stamford Bridge in London on September 29, 2025, on the eve of their UEFA Champions League league phase football match against Chelsea. fbl - eur - c1 - chelsea - training Chelsea's English defender #24 Reece James (R) takes part in a team training session at Chelsea's Cobham training facility in Stoke D'Abernon, southwest of London on September 29, 2025, ahead of their UEFA Champions League league phase football match against Benfica. fbl - eur - c1 - chelsea - training Chelsea's Portuguese midfielder #07 Pedro Neto (R) takes part in a team training session at Chelsea's Cobham training facility in Stoke D'Abernon, southwest of London on September 29, 2025, ahead of their UEFA Champions League league phase football match against Benfica. fbl - eur - c1 - chelsea - training Chelsea's French defender #05 Benoit Badiashile (R) takes part in a team training session at Chelsea's Cobham training facility in Stoke D'Abernon, southwest of London on September 29, 2025, ahead of their UEFA Champions League league phase football match against Benfica. fbl - eur - c1 - chelsea - training fbl - eur - c1 - chelsea - training fbl - eur - c1 - chelsea - training fbl - eur - c1 - chelsea - training Chelsea's Italian head coach Enzo Maresca takes a team training session at Chelsea's Cobham training facility in Stoke D'Abernon, southwest of London on September 29, 2025, ahead of their UEFA Champions League league phase football match against Benfica. fbl - eur - c1 - chelsea - training Chelsea's Brazilian striker #20 Joao Pedro (C) and teammates take part in a team training session at Chelsea's Cobham training facility in Stoke D'Abernon, southwest of London on September 29, 2025, ahead of their UEFA Champions League league phase football match against Benfica. fbl - eur - c1 - chelsea - training Chelsea's Argentinian midfielder #19 Alejandro Garnacho takes part in a team training session at Chelsea's Cobham training facility in Stoke D'Abernon, southwest of London on September 29, 2025, ahead of their UEFA Champions League league phase football match against Benfica. fbl - eur - c1 - chelsea - training Chelsea's Brazilian striker #20 Joao Pedro takes part in a team training session at Chelsea's Cobham training facility in Stoke D'Abernon, southwest of London on September 29, 2025, ahead of their UEFA Champions League league phase football match against Benfica. fbl - eur - c1 - chelsea - training Chelsea's Portuguese midfielder #07 Pedro Neto, Chelsea's Argentinian midfielder #08 Enzo Fernandez and Chelsea's English defender #24 Reece James take part in a team training session at Chelsea's Cobham training facility in Stoke D'Abernon, southwest of London on September 29, 2025, ahead of their UEFA Champions League league phase football match against Benfica. fbl - eur - c1 - chelsea - training Chelsea players take part in a team training session at Chelsea's Cobham training facility in Stoke D'Abernon, southwest of London on September 29, 2025, ahead of their UEFA Champions League league phase football match against Benfica. fbl - eur - c1 - chelsea - presser Chelsea's Portuguese midfielder #07 Pedro Neto reacts during a press conference at Stamford Bridge in London on September 29, 2025, on the eve of their UEFA Champions League league phase football match against Benfica. fbl - eur - c1 - chelsea - presser Beside a photo of Jose Mourinho, Chelsea's Italian head coach Enzo Maresca speaks at a press conference at Stamford Bridge in London on September 29, 2025, on the eve of their UEFA Champions League league phase football match against Benfica. fbl - eur - c1 - chelsea - presser fbl - eur - c1 - chelsea - presser fbl - eur - c1 - chelsea - presser fbl - eur - c1 - bodoe glimt - tottenham topshot - fbl - eur - c1 - marseille - ajax Marseille's Gabonese forward #97 Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (2ndL) shoots to score past Ajax's Czech goalkeeper #01 Vitezslav Jaros during the UEFA Champions League, league phase day 2, football match between Olympique de Marseille (FRA) and AFC Ajax (NED) at the Velodrome stadium, in Marseille on September 30, 2025. topshot - fbl - eur - c1 - marseille - ajax Marseille's Brazilian forward #14 Igor Paixao celebrates scoring his team's second goal during the UEFA Champions League, league phase day 2, football match between Olympique de Marseille (FRA) and AFC Ajax (NED) at the Velodrome stadium, in Marseille on September 30, 2025. topshot - fbl - eur - c1 - marseille - ajax Marseille's French defender #28 Benjamin Pavard (L) and Ajax's Belgian forward #11 Mika Godts fight for the ball during the UEFA Champions League, league phase day 2, football match between Olympique de Marseille (FRA) and AFC Ajax (NED) at the Velodrome stadium, in Marseille on September 30, 2025. topshot - fbl - eur - c1 - marseille - ajax Marseille's players including Marseille's English defender #04 Conrad Jaden Egan-Riley, Marseille's US forward #22 Timothy Weah, Marseille's Belgian goalkeeper #40 Jelle Van Neck, Marseille's Brazilian forward #14 Igor Paixao and Marseille's Italian defender #33 Emerson Palmieri celebrate after winning the UEFA Champions League, league phase day 2, football match between Olympique de Marseille (FRA) and AFC Ajax (NED) at the Velodrome stadium, in Marseille on September 30, 2025.
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Brazil international Vinicius accused Benfica midfielder Gianluca Prestianni of racially abusing him during Real's 1-0 win in Lisbon on Tuesday, telling the referee he had been called a "monkey" during a confrontation with the Argentine.
After the match, Mourinho hit out at Vinicius for inciting Benfica's players and fans with his celebration following his winning goal in the first leg of the knockout phase play-off tie. UEFA has said it would investigation "allegations of discriminatory behaviour".
Bayern Munich coach Kompany, who reflected on his past experiences of racism as a player, said what he found most troubling was what unfolded off the pitch.
"You have the leader of an organisation, Jose Mourinho, who basically attacks the character of Vinicius Junior by bringing in the type of celebration. To discredit what Vinicius is doing at this moment," Kompany told reporters on Friday.
"And for me in terms of leadership, it's a huge mistake and it's something that we should not accept."
Kompany said talk of Vinicius' celebration should not distract from the player's immediate response to Prestianni's remarks, which showed genuine emotional distress.
"You have Vini Jr, who, when you watch the action itself, his reaction cannot be faked. You can see it. His reaction is an emotional reaction. I don't see any benefit for him to go to the referee and put all this misery on his shoulders," said Kompany.
"There is absolutely no reason for Vini Jr to go and do this, and he does it, and when he does it, I think in his mind he's doing it more because it's the right thing to do in that moment."
-Difficult to prove-
However, Kompany said it would be difficult to prove the allegations of racist abuse against Prestianni unless the player admitted to doing so.
"You have a player (Prestianni) who's hiding what he's saying in his shirt... You have a player who's complaining, you have a player who says he didn't do it, and I think unless the player himself comes forward, it's difficult, it's a difficult case," said the Belgian.
Despite the criticism, Kompany said he hopes the situation can still lead to accountability and growth. If Prestianni did use racist language, he said, there should remain a space for apology and for disciplinary bodies to consider remorse.
"If it is true that the player from Benfica has said something as bad as what he said, I would love a situation where there's still a room where somebody can apologise. And say I'm sorry I made a mistake.
"This has an impact on the sentence as well, so the sentence should be A or B. But if you admit that you've made a mistake, There should be an opportunity as well to say that hey, nobody's perfect."
Turning back to Mourinho, Kompany said he'd "never heard a person say anything bad" about him and would not judge the Portuguese based on the incident at the Estadio da Luz.
"He's made a mistake. Hopefully in the future it won't happen like this again and that we can move forward and grow."
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