Rosenior: Anyone Guilty Of Racism Has No Place In Football
Chelsea F.C. head coach Liam Rosenior says any player, coach or manager found guilty of racist behaviour “shouldn’t be in the game,” following allegations made during a Champions League match this week.
UEFA has opened an investigation into claims that Vinícius Júnior was racially abused by Gianluca Prestianni during Real Madrid CF’s 1-0 win over S.L. Benfica in Lisbon on Tuesday.
Speaking to BBC Sport on Thursday, Rosenior said he could not comment directly while the investigation is ongoing but made his position clear.
“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,” he said.
Benfica manager José Mourinho accused Vinícius of inciting the crowd with his goal celebration, though Rosenior defended the Brazilian winger and reflected on his personal experience.
“I have been racially abused myself,” Rosenior said. “When you are judged for something you should be proud of, it is the worst feeling you can ever imagine.”
Benfica have defended Prestianni, describing the situation as a “defamation campaign” and sharing footage of the alleged incident on social media, arguing that the distance involved made it impossible for Real Madrid players to hear what was reported.
Rosenior added that racism in football reflects broader societal divisions and called for stronger accountability.
“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.”
