Mourinho's Bernabeu homecoming upended by suspension, racism rowReal Madrid's Brazilian forward Vinicius Junior talks with Benfica's coach Jose Mourinho in the aftermath of the alleged first-leg racial abuse. Mourinho cannot sit in the dug-out for the play-off second leg after being sent off during his team's 1-0 first-leg defeat in Lisbon last week. The 63-year-old also came under fire for his controversial comments in the aftermath of alleged racial abuse aimed at Madrid star Vinicius Junior by Benfica midfielder Gianluca Prestianni. The Argentine will miss the second leg after the Union of European Football Associations (Uefa) provisionally suspended him for one game amid an investigation into the incident. The coach said referee Francois Letexier was avoiding booking Madrid players who were at risk of suspension for the second leg.

Source: Bangkok Post February 24, 2026 05:56 UTC