In the days since a controversial incident between Vinícius Júnior and Gianluca Prestianni during a Champions League playoff match, one of football’s most respected voices has broken his silence, and he’s not holding back.
French World Cup champion Lilian Thuram has delivered a scathing critique of José Mourinho, accusing the veteran manager of failing to properly address the serious allegation of racist abuse and instead shifting attention to the actions of the victim.
Thuram‘s remarks, published in French media and widely reported internationally, reflect a deeper frustration with how alleged racism in football is discussed at the highest levels.
The controversy erupted on February 17 when Vinícius claimed that Prestianni directed a racist insult, allegedly calling him a “monkey”, after the Real Madrid star scored the match’s only goal.
The match was stopped for nearly ten minutes as antiracism protocols were invoked, and the incident quickly became a flashpoint in ongoing debates about racism in the sport.
Prestianni has denied using racist language, and the referee allowed the match to continue after conversations with both players.
Thuram hits back with blistering critique
What followed in the post-match press conference was Mourinho‘s attempt to tread carefully.
The Portuguese coach said he had heard different accounts from each player and did not want to take sides, but controversially suggested that Vinícius could have avoided escalating the situation by celebrating differently, a line of commentary that has drawn widespread rebuke.
Thuram‘s response was unequivocal. He described Mourinho‘s framing of the incident as “pathetic” and rooted in a mindset he characterized as “white superiority and narcissism,” arguing that the alleged racist act had nothing to do with how Vinícius celebrated his goal, but solely with the color of his skin.
“Who are you, Mr. Mourinho, to decide what Vinícius has the right to do?” Thuram asked in his interview.
“The racist act that Vinícius suffered had nothing to do with his behavior, but with the color of his skin. Mourinho suggests that it could be Vinícius‘s fault… It’s outrageous.”
Thuram went further, questioning the credibility given to players reporting racist abuse and noting the persistence of racial humiliation in sport despite progress over decades.
“It’s 2026, and in 2026, people of color can still be humiliated on the field,” he said, pointing out that both Vinícius and teammate Kylian Mbappé, who supports Vinícius‘s account, were reluctantly questioned rather than believed outright.
The former Juventus and Parma defender also criticized the “first instinct” of some people when confronted with claims of racism, suggesting they often fail to empathize with the victim and instead let doubt persist.
“That feeling of superiority that some white people have prevents them from putting themselves in the victims’ shoes,” he said.
Mourinho‘s comments, which included references to the legendary Black player Eusébio in defense of Benfica‘s history, have drawn criticism not only from Thuram but from pundits and antiracism advocates who argue that focusing on celebration or emotion distracts from the core issue of racial abuse.
Read the full article here
