Bayern Munich’s Coach Responds to Mourinho’s Remarks
Bayern Munich’s head coach, Vincent Kompany, has publicly rebuked José Mourinho following remarks the Tottenham manager made about Vinícius Júnior, the Real Madrid star who recently alleged that he was racially abused during a Champions League encounter against Benfica. Mourinho, currently at Benfica, insinuated that Vinícius may have provoked Benfica’s players with his goal-scoring celebrations in their 1-0 loss on Tuesday. Following the match, Vinícius accused Gianluca Prestianni, a Benfica player, of using a racial slur against him.
Mourinho went on to question the recurrence of racism targeting Vinícius in various stadiums, stating, “There is something wrong because it happens in every stadium. Always something happens where Vinícius is playing.”
Kompany’s Strong Stance
In response to these comments, Kompany took a strong stance, condemning Mourinho’s behavior as an attack on the character of Vinícius.
“After the match, it’s disappointing to see Mourinho, a prominent figure in football, undermine Vinícius’s character by attributing his celebration to incitement,”
Kompany stated. He emphasized that this kind of response from a leader is unacceptable and a considerable error.
The issue has gained traction, prompting UEFA to appoint an investigator to examine the allegations from the match in Lisbon. Real Madrid has provided UEFA with all relevant evidence regarding the incident in question. In light of Vinícius’ celebration following his impressive goal, Mourinho suggested that such displays should be conducted with more respect.
Irony in Mourinho’s Criticism
Kompany highlighted the irony in Mourinho’s criticism, referencing the manager’s own history of passionate celebrations, including a memorable moment at Porto when he famously ran down the touchline after defeating Manchester United.
“He has a history of celebrating fervently, and his former players regard him highly. I recognize his positive qualities, yet he has erred here and I hope he reflects on this moving forward.”
Denial and Defense
Meanwhile, Prestianni denied the allegations of racial abuse and claimed that he had been subjected to a campaign of defamation. Kompany defended Vinícius’s reaction, asserting that it reflected genuine emotion rather than any strategic intent.
“You can’t fake that kind of response; it’s something deeply felt. Vinícius approached the referee not for personal gain but because it was the morally right decision in those moments,”
he explained. Kompany concluded by stressing the complexity of the situation, noting that unless a player openly admits to wrongdoing, it complicates the case at hand.
