Vincent Kompany has defended Vinícius Júnior following recent controversy, while also criticising comments made by José Mourinho.
Speaking on the incident, Kompany described the situation as complex and said it should be viewed in separate parts — what happened on the pitch, what occurred in the stands, and the reactions after the game.
He insisted that Vinícius’ emotional response during the match was genuine and not staged, arguing that the Brazilian had no reason to fabricate his reaction or place unnecessary pressure on the referee.
Kompany also referenced comments made by Kylian Mbappé, who reportedly spoke clearly about what he witnessed, as well as footage showing alleged racist gestures from sections of the crowd.
Turning to Mourinho’s post-match remarks, Kompany said the Portuguese coach made a leadership mistake by questioning Vinícius’ character and referencing Eusébio in his defence of Benfica. Kompany argued that citing Eusébio’s legacy to dismiss racism concerns overlooked the discrimination Black players historically endured.
Despite his criticism, Kompany acknowledged Mourinho’s reputation and influence in football, stating that many players admire him and that he believes Mourinho is fundamentally a good person. However, he maintained that a mistake was made and expressed hope that similar incidents can be avoided in the future.
