Thibaut Courtois addresses José Mourinho’s remarks: ‘Vinícius Júnior acted appropriately’
Thibaut Courtois expressed his “disappointment” regarding José Mourinho’s assertion that Vinícius Júnior’s goal celebration resulted in the player allegedly facing racial abuse, as Real Madrid gets ready to face Benfica in their Champions League playoff second leg on Wednesday.
UEFA has temporarily suspended Benfica winger Gianluca Prestianni for one match while its investigation into the incident—following Vinícius’ goal in Madrid’s 1-0 victory in Lisbon last week—remains ongoing, with both Benfica and Prestianni maintaining the player’s innocence.
After the first leg, Mourinho—who will be serving a suspension for the second leg due to a red card received late in last week’s match—implied that the Brazil international’s celebration, which involved dancing by the corner flag at the Estadio da Luz, instigated the altercation.
“Mourinho is Mourinho, and as a coach, you will always defend your club and what your player has conveyed to you,” Courtois stated during a news conference on Tuesday. “However, what I found disappointing was the reference to Vini’s celebration. Vini did nothing inappropriate. We cannot excuse an apparent racist act based on a player’s celebration.”
Despite his suspension, Prestianni has joined the Benfica squad in Madrid for Wednesday’s match at the Bernabéu. “This is a significant moment for football to address these issues,” Courtois remarked.
“In the locker room, we are aware of what Vinicius has shared with us. This has occurred frequently in football, both on the pitch and in stadiums, and we must confront it now.
“I know Vini heard it clearly, and I fully believe him. As [Prestianni] covered his face with his shirt, we may never know the complete truth. Benfica is defending their player, and the relevant authorities will make their decisions.”
UEFA’s disciplinary guidelines stipulate a potential 10-game suspension for discriminatory conduct.
Sources have informed ESPN that in his testimony to UEFA, Prestianni claimed he used an anti-gay slur when addressing Vinicius, rather than a racial one.
“To me, that appears equally serious,” Courtois commented. “It’s a homophobic insult. It’s just as serious… We can never accept racism, homophobia, or similar behaviors.”
Madrid coach Álvaro Arbeloa urged UEFA to ensure that [anti-racism] is not merely a slogan or a pleasant banner displayed before a match.
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Arbeloa stated: “We hope they seize this opportunity. [Vini] is doing well, he’s enthusiastic, and he’s motivated for this type of match. Since my arrival [in January], he has been pivotal.”
Another Madrid forward, Kylian Mbappé, has faced a knee issue in recent weeks, but Arbeloa confirmed he is available for Wednesday’s match.
“Kylian is prepared to play tomorrow, which is currently the most crucial aspect,” Arbeloa noted. “It’s essential to recognize the commitment he is demonstrating to his teammates; he is striving to assist us on the field.”
