Chelsea head coach Liam Rosenior has called for lifetime bans from football for anyone found guilty of racism, following allegations that Real Madrid forward Vinícius Júnior was racially abused during a Champions League match against Benfica on Tuesday.
Rosenior stated unequivocally that individuals convicted of racism should have no place in the sport. “If any player or any coach or any manager is ever found guilty of racism, they shouldn’t be in the game. It’s as simple as that for me,” he said, according to reports.
The incident involving Vinícius Júnior occurred during Real Madrid’s match against Benfica in Lisbon. The Brazilian player briefly refused to continue playing after alleging racial abuse from Benfica’s Gianluca Prestianni. Prestianni has denied the allegations, and Benfica has claimed he was the victim of a “smear campaign.” Uefa could impose a minimum 10-match ban on Prestianni if found guilty.
Rosenior declined to comment directly on remarks made by Benfica manager José Mourinho, who appeared to suggest Vinícius Júnior provoked the abuse with his goal celebration. Rosenior cited the ongoing Uefa investigation, but emphasized that “regardless how a player celebrates, race should never reach into it.” He added, “When you see a player upset, how Vinícius Júnior was upset, normally they’re upset for a reason.”
The Chelsea manager also drew on his own experiences with racism, stating, “I’ve been racially abused myself. I know people who have been racially abused. What people have to understand is when you are judged for something that you should be proud of, This proves the worst feeling you can ever possibly imagine. We find historical things to racism.”
Rosenior broadened his criticism to include what he described as divisive practices within the media, accusing some outlets of making “prejudgments on people…based on a sexual orientation, what country they come from, what religion they are, what colour of skin they have.” He expressed his frustration with such behavior, stating, “It sickens me, to be honest.”
He called for greater accountability in social media and the press, arguing that individuals should be “judged equally based on the content of the character.” Rosenior also revealed his decision to allow Chelsea’s players to “get some sun” this week, following a demanding schedule, before their upcoming match against Burnley on Saturday.
Uefa is currently investigating the allegations against Gianluca Prestianni, with a decision expected in the coming weeks. The outcome of the investigation will likely set a precedent for future cases of alleged racism in European football.
