UCL: He messed up – Mikel Obi slams Mourinho over Vinicius racist incident
Sport UCL: He messed up – Mikel Obi slams Mourinho over Vinicius racist incident Published on February 23, 2026 By Ifreke Inyang googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-1500386953281-8'); }); Former Super Eagles captain, John Mikel Obi, has criticized Benfica manager for his remarks on the Vinicius Jr racism row. The incident happened in last week’s Champions League play-off first leg, after Vinicius Jr accused Gianluca Prestianni of calling him a “monkey”. After the game, Mourinho claimed the Brazilian winger incited the home fans with his goal celebrations. googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-1524595905268-5'); }); He also pointed to Benfica’s legend Eusebio as proof that the Portuguese club is not racist. Mikel Obi, who played under Mourinho in his two spells as Chelsea boss, said on his Obi One Podcast: “What I expected to hear from my old boss, from my gaffer [was] “Yes it is under investigation, but there is not place for racism there, there is no place for such thing, but let’s wait until it is concluded, there is no place for that”. “So for him to come out and say “Oh yeah, Vinicius Jr shouldn’t have celebrated the way he did”, that was a clumsy, clumsy comment from Jose Mourinho. ‘He will be the first, he knows, he will be the first to know “I’ve f***ed up here”. He is a smart, smart guy, a very smart guy, he knows.” Don't Miss EPL: Man Utd suffer major injury blow ahead of Everton clash You may like Vinicius: No place for racism in life, you’re wrong – Emmanuel Adebayor knocks Mourinho UCL: UEFA suspends Benfica’s Gianluca Prestianni after Vinicius racism claim UCL: Galatasaray sweat on Osimhen ahead Juventus rematch UCL: ‘He’s crucial’ – Capello suggests Juventus player to stop Osimhen in second leg ‘They won’t qualify for UCL, UEL’ – Walcott predicts where Real Madrid would finish if they play in EPL UCL: Mourinho made huge mistake in Vinicius racist incident – Kompany