Chelsea head coach Liam Rosenior has declared that any player, coach, or manager found guilty of racist behaviour in football “shouldn’t be in the game”, speaking out following allegations of racial abuse during a Champions League match earlier this week.
UEFA opened an investigation into claims that Real Madrid forward Vinícius Júnior was racially abused by S.L. Benfica defender Gianluca Prestianni during Real Madrid’s 1-0 victory over the Portuguese club in Lisbon on Tuesday evening.
According to BBC Sport, Rosenior addressed the incident on Thursday, stating that while he could not comment directly on the specifics while UEFA’s investigation remains ongoing, his position on racism in football was unequivocal.
“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,” Rosenior said.
The Chelsea manager expressed personal distress over the incident and emphasised that racism in any form, whether in football or broader society, is unacceptable.
“It’s upsetting. Any form of racism in society, not just football, is unacceptable. When you see a player as upset as Vinícius was, normally they’re upset for a reason,” he stated.
Vinícius Júnior, a Brazilian international who plays as a winger for Real Madrid, has been one of European football’s most prominent voices against racism in recent years. The 25-year-old has faced multiple incidents of racial abuse during matches in Spain’s La Liga, prompting widespread discussions about discrimination in European football and calls for stricter enforcement of anti-racism protocols.
The latest incident occurred during Real Madrid’s Champions League knockout stage match against Benfica at the Estádio da Luz. Following the game, Real Madrid lodged a formal complaint with UEFA, alleging that Prestianni, a 21-year-old Argentine defender, directed racist language at Vinícius during play.
Benfica manager José Mourinho, the Portuguese tactician who previously managed Real Madrid, Chelsea, and several other top European clubs, responded to the allegations by accusing Vinícius of inciting the crowd with his goal celebration, suggesting the Brazilian’s conduct contributed to tensions during the match.
However, Rosenior defended the Real Madrid winger and drew on his own experiences as a Black footballer to contextualise the emotional impact of racial abuse.
“I have been racially abused myself,” Rosenior revealed. “When you are judged for something you should be proud of, it is the worst feeling you can ever imagine.”
Rosenior, who is of Jamaican descent through his father and English through his mother, played as a defender for clubs including Brighton & Hove Albion, Reading, and Hull City during a career that spanned over a decade. He has previously spoken publicly about experiencing racism both on and off the pitch, and has advocated for stronger measures to combat discrimination in football.
Benfica have strongly defended Prestianni against the allegations, describing the situation as a “defamation campaign” orchestrated against the player and the club. The Lisbon-based club posted footage of the alleged incident on social media platforms, claiming that the distance between Prestianni and the Real Madrid players at the time made it impossible for them to have heard what they reported.
The club’s statement appeared aimed at challenging the credibility of the complaint and protecting the reputation of the young Argentine, who joined Benfica on loan from Inter Milan earlier in the 2025-26 season.
UEFA’s disciplinary procedures in cases involving alleged racism typically involve detailed review of available footage, witness statements from match officials and players, and lip-reading analysis where applicable. The investigation is expected to take several weeks before any findings are announced.
European football’s governing body has strengthened its anti-discrimination protocols in recent years following high-profile incidents involving racial abuse across multiple leagues and competitions. UEFA’s current disciplinary regulations include provisions for stadium closures, fines, points deductions, and competition bans for clubs whose players, officials, or supporters engage in racist conduct.
Individual players found guilty of racist behaviour face suspension from competition, with bans typically ranging from five to ten matches depending on the severity and context of the offence. However, critics have argued that enforcement remains inconsistent and that punishments are often insufficient to deter repeat incidents.
Rosenior used the opportunity to address broader societal issues that underpin racism in football, calling for greater accountability across all levels of the sport and beyond.
“There needs to be more accountability. There’s a lot of division, and people are prejudged based on their background, religion, nationality, or the colour of their skin. Everybody should be judged equally based on the content of their character,” Rosenior said.
His remarks echo longstanding calls from anti-racism campaigners and civil rights advocates who argue that football, as one of the world’s most popular and visible cultural platforms, has both a responsibility and an opportunity to lead societal progress on issues of equality and inclusion.
The incident comes amid renewed scrutiny of racism in European football. Over the past three seasons, multiple high-profile cases involving racial abuse have been reported across England’s Premier League, Spain’s La Liga, Italy’s Serie A, and various UEFA competitions, prompting players, managers, and advocacy organisations to demand more decisive action from governing bodies.
Vinícius Júnior himself has become a symbol of resistance against racism in football, having faced repeated abuse during La Liga matches, particularly from opposition fans. His experiences have sparked widespread debate in Spain and across Europe about the effectiveness of existing anti-racism measures and the need for cultural change within football institutions and fan communities.
Real Madrid, one of the world’s most successful and commercially powerful football clubs, has consistently backed Vinícius throughout his ordeal and has repeatedly called on Spanish football authorities and UEFA to impose stronger sanctions on clubs and individuals involved in racist incidents.
The ongoing UEFA investigation will determine whether Prestianni faces disciplinary action. Both Benfica and Real Madrid are expected to submit further evidence and statements as part of the process.
