The Athletic FC Podcast

Episode: Vinicius, Mourinho and Another Ugly Night for Football
Date: February 18, 2026
Host: Ayo Akinwolere
Guests: Jay Harris, Dermot Corrigan

Episode Overview

This episode centers on Real Madrid's Champions League match at Benfica, which was overshadowed by allegations of racist abuse directed at Vinicius Jr. It explores the on-field incident, the reactions from players, staff, and the media, and the broader issue of racism in football. The episode also discusses club and managerial responses, the adequacy of existing protocols, and the emotional toll on those subjected to abuse.

Key Discussion Points and Insights

1. Vinicius Jr.'s Standout Goal and Its Aftermath

[01:23–03:32]

• Vinicius Jr.'s performance:

  • Scored a "trademark" goal, demonstrating individual brilliance—described as one only a handful of players could achieve.
    • "There are only two players in the world who can score that goal, Vinicius Jr. And Mbappe. And he's bang on with that. It's a beautiful goal." — Ayo Akinwolere ([03:01])
  • Celebrated enthusiastically—an act that ignited a charged atmosphere among Benfica supporters.

• Celebration turns contentious:

  • Vinicius's dance celebration in front of Benfica fans led to a heated response from players and fans.
  • Referee issued Vinicius a yellow card, possibly to quell tensions, causing disbelief from the player.
    • "Vinicius, as he often does when he gets booked as well, he had that look of disbelief, like, how am I the one here who's getting punished?" — Jay Harris ([03:51])

2. The Racism Allegation: What Happened on the Pitch

[04:42–06:19]

• Incident details:

  • Following the goal and celebration, a melee saw both teams' players involved.
  • Gianluca Prestiani (Benfica) was seen covering his mouth as he spoke to Vinicius Jr., after which Vinicius immediately reported racism to the referee.
  • Referee enacted FIFA's anti-racism protocol—signaling to the crowd.

• Allegations and reactions:

  • Multiple Real Madrid players, including Mbappe and Tchouameni, publicly stated they heard Prestiani use the racist slur "monkey."
    • "It feels bad, me even just saying it like that. But that's what Mbappe said in the press conference... Tchouameni also said it on Spanish TV." — Jay Harris ([05:33])
  • Benfica and Prestiani denied the allegations.

3. The Burden on the Victim

[06:19–09:28]

• Emotional pressure:
  • Vinicius Jr. found isolated and deeply affected, sitting alone while staff and teammates debated next steps.
  • Emphasis often placed on the abused player to decide if play should continue—seen as unfair.
    • "So much emphasis is put on the individual who's been allegedly racially abused to basically decide whether the game goes ahead or not... it's quite unfair." — Ayo Akinwolere ([06:30])
    • "He had that pressure on his shoulders during those moments that he's sitting there after all that has happened to him... it's a huge weight on his shoulders." — Jay Harris ([08:16])

4. Protocols, Investigations, and Inadequacies

[09:28–11:08], [35:50–38:50]

• Questions over current protocols:

  • Existing anti-racism protocols criticized as inadequate and ambiguous, especially in volatile, high-stakes matches.
  • Calls for investigations not only by match officials but also by governing bodies with real consequences.

• Precedent and enforcement:

  • Examples from La Liga where stadium bans, fines, and even prison sentences have been used for racist conduct—but such measures rarely apply to player-on-player incidents.
    • "That's the type of thing that we need to see more and more of. So people know there are repercussions to this, but it's a very strange situation when it's actually a player doing it." — Ayo Akinwolere ([09:53])

• UEFA’s response:

  • Plans to open an investigation, but skepticism around the thoroughness or speed, with no expected resolution before the next match.
    • "UEFA have moved in similar cases quite slowly before. They will take their time to gather the evidence... It may prove to be difficult." — Jay Harris ([36:07])

5. Club and Managerial Responses

[17:32–25:33]

• Prestiani’s denial:

  • Issued a statement on social media denying racism and claiming victimization by threats from Madrid players.
    • "I want to clarify that at no time did I direct racist insults to Vinnie Jr. Who regrettably misunderstood what he thought he heard. I was never racist with anyone and I regret the threat I received from Real Madrid players." — Dermot Corrigan, reading Prestiani's post ([17:32])

• Benfica’s PR efforts:

  • Released video evidence attempting to deny the allegation.
  • Questioned the credibility of reports from Madrid players.

• Mourinho’s reaction:

  • Defended Prestiani, blamed Vinicius and his celebration, described a climate in which racism claims are overblown.
  • Referenced Eusébio, a legendary black Benfica player, to defend the club’s image.
    • "He said, 'The biggest person in the history of this club is black Eusebio...This club, the last thing that it is is racist.'" — Dermot Corrigan ([25:33])
  • Guest analysis called out the racism in shifting blame and the hypocrisy of Mourinho’s statements.
    • "Mourinho sort of victim shaming, victim, blaming Vinicius is disgusting. There's no contrition whatsoever." — Ayo Akinwolere ([20:05])
    • "Seedorf spoke very well on TV as well when he said that Mourinho had let himself down...He just doesn't understand the contexts." — Jay Harris ([22:44])

6. The Broader Societal Context of Racism in Football

[26:03–30:23]

• Gaslighting and the "not racist" defense:

  • Critique of using black icons like Eusébio to deflect or diminish present-day concerns.
    • "The easiest way you could probably put that is someone saying, I've got a black friend." — IO Akimolere ([26:16])
  • Importance of listening to victims and recognizing context.
    • "This is a bigger conversation. Should we be listening more than actually speaking for those who are going through these things and are victims of it?" — IO Akimolere ([28:21])

• Vinicius as "lightning rod":

  • His refusal to stay silent makes him a target for abuse and deflection.
    • "He has become a lightning rod for the issue...the fact that he stands up for himself..." — Jay Harris ([30:23])

• Societal failures bleed into football:

  • Football magnifies issues that pervade society at large.
    • "It's not a football issue, it's a societal issue. For whatever reason, it just gets magnified through football." — IO Akimolere ([39:23])

7. The Emotional Toll and Call for Change

[28:42–29:36], [39:23–41:00]

• Personal exhaustion:

  • Black journalists and footballers find discussions about racism emotionally draining.
    • "There are times where it's just exhausting because you know that no matter how often you talk about it, lots of people are just never going to take you that seriously." — IO Akimolere ([39:23])
  • Reflection on Vinicius Jr.'s public breakdown and reluctance to keep fighting the same battles.
    • "Do you think he wants to be up on stage talking about that? Do you think he wants to be sat on a bench? Do you think he wants to run to the referee and have to relive that experience over and over and over again? Of course he doesn't." — IO Akimolere ([28:42])

• Need for meaningful consequences:

  • Repeated calls for strong, consistent punishments for racist behavior at all levels.
    • "Governing bodies need to make sure there's tangible punishments." — IO Akimolere ([32:23])

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• Ayo Akinwolere:

  • "There are only two players in the world who can score that goal, Vinicius Jr. And Mbappe. And he's bang on with that. It's a beautiful goal." ([03:01])
  • "So much emphasis is put on the individual who's been allegedly racially abused to basically decide whether the game goes ahead or not... it's quite unfair." ([06:30])
  • "Mourinho sort of victim shaming, victim, blaming Vinicius is disgusting." ([20:05])

• Jay Harris:

  • "Vinicius, as he often does when he gets booked as well, he had that look of disbelief, like, how am I the one here who's getting punished?" ([03:51])
  • "He has become a lightning rod for the issue if I can use that phrase...the fact that he stands up for himself." ([30:23])

• Dermot Corrigan:

  • "It's my side, right or wrong, that the morals goes out the window and it's a tribal kind of thing, that you're just with your people and you have to support your people." ([11:20])
  • "Disingenuous is the most gracious way I can describe what he (Mourinho) said." ([25:33])

Main Timestamps for Key Segments

• 01:23 – 03:32: Vinicius Jr.’s goal and celebration
• 03:32 – 06:19: On-pitch altercation and racism allegation
• 06:19 – 09:28: Emotional toll on Vinicius, player burden
• 09:28 – 11:20: Protocols & examples of enforcement
• 17:32 – 25:33: Club, player, and Mourinho responses
• 26:03 – 30:23: Gaslighting, “not racist” defense, societal implications
• 35:50 – 38:50: What’s next—UEFA, investigations, skepticism
• 39:23 – 41:00: The exhaustion of discussing racism, emotional cost

Conclusion

The episode delivers a frank, passionate yet weary analysis of the racism scandal that marred an otherwise world-class Champions League match. It deconstructs the incident, acknowledges the failings of clubs, managers, and governing bodies, and argues forcefully for change—both in football and society at large. The hosts and guests stress the importance of not letting such conversations fade, even as they recognize the heavy toll on those most affected.