Rosenior Calls for Zero Tolerance on Racism in Football

omidbasir- Chelsea head coach Liam Rosenior has stated that any individual found guilty of racist behavior in football “shouldn’t be in the game.” His comments come in light of an ongoing UEFA investigation regarding allegations that Real Madrid player Vinicius Jr. was racially abused by Benfica’s Gianluca Prestianni during a recent Champions League match.

Prestianni, who has denied the allegations, faces a potential suspension of at least 10 matches in European competitions if found guilty. Rosenior asserts that any coach or player who engages in racist actions should be permanently banned from the sport.

When asked for his perspective on the incident involving Vinicius Jr., Rosenior remarked, “If any player, any coach, or any manager is found guilty of racism, they shouldn’t be in the game. It’s as simple as that. It’s upsetting. Always, there needs to be context to it. What I will say is, any form of racism in society, not just in football, is unacceptable.”

While being cautious not to comment on the ongoing investigation, Rosenior noted, “When you see a player upset, as Vinicius Jr. was, there is typically a valid reason for that distress.”

Earlier, Benfica manager Jose Mourinho had accused Vinicius of inciting the crowd with his goal celebration during Real Madrid’s 1-0 victory in Lisbon. Although Rosenior refrained from directly addressing Mourinho’s remarks, he defended Vinicius’s reactions, sharing his own experiences with racial abuse. “I have been racially abused myself. What people must understand is that being judged for something you should take pride in is an incredibly painful experience,” he explained.

In response to the allegations, Benfica defended Prestianni on social media, suggesting there was a “defamation campaign” against him. They shared a video of the incident on their X account, claiming that the distance between players made it impossible for the Real Madrid team to hear what was allegedly said.

Rosenior further emphasized that addressing racism requires more profound changes in society, stating, “There are many aspects to consider, and this situation is complex when discussing race or gender. It sickens me to be honest. The debate extends beyond football; there must be greater accountability in all facets, especially in social media and the press. Everyone should be judged based on their character, not their background.”

West Ham manager Nuno Espirito Santo, who has played for Benfica’s rival Porto, echoed these sentiments, declaring that racism must be eradicated globally. “I condemn it. There is no space for racism in football or society, and for me, that’s final. I totally condemn it,” he stated.