Chelsea Coach Urges Lifetime Ban for Racist Players, Coaches, and Managers
Chelsea F.C. Head Coach, Liam Rosenior, has taken a strong stance against racism in football, declaring that any player, coach, or manager found guilty of such behavior should face a lifetime ban from the game.
Rosenior’s comments follow recent racist allegations made during a highly charged Champions League clash this week.
UEFA has officially opened an investigation into claims that Real Madrid star Vinícius Júnior was racially abused by Benfica’s Gianluca Prestianni during Real Madrid’s 1-0 victory in Lisbon on Tuesday.
Speaking about the incident on Thursday, Rosenior clarified that while he could not comment directly on the specifics of the ongoing UEFA investigation, his general stance on the issue is uncompromising.
“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. 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,” Rosenior stated.
The incident in Lisbon also drew controversy off the pitch. Benfica manager José Mourinho publicly accused Vinícius of inciting the home crowd with his goal celebration.
However, Rosenior strongly defended the Brazilian winger and reflected on the emotional toll such abuse takes, sharing his own personal experiences with racism.
“I have been racially abused myself. When you are judged for something you should be proud of, it is the worst feeling you can ever imagine,” the Chelsea boss revealed.
Benfica has vehemently defended Prestianni. The Portuguese club described the allegations as a “defamation campaign” and even posted footage of the alleged incident on social media, arguing that the distance between the players made it physically impossible for Real Madrid’s squad to have heard the slurs they reported.
Broadening the conversation, Rosenior emphasized that the recurring issue of racism in football is a mirror reflecting deeper societal problems, calling for an urgent increase in accountability across the board.
“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 noted.
