Former Manchester United defender, Rio Ferdinand, has defended Jose Mourinho after the Benfica manager was widely criticized for his stance on the alleged racial abuse toward Real Madrid’s Vinicius Junior.
This comes after Mourinho refused to throw his support behind Benfica player Gianluca Prestianni or Vinicius in the aftermath of the alleged racial scandal that marred the first leg of the Champions League Round of 16 play-off first leg tie last week between Benfica and Real Madrid.
Instead, Mourinho accused Vinicius of provoking the abuse with his celebration in front of Benfica fans after he scored the only goal of the match.
Speaking on his Rio Ferdinand Presents, Ferdinand said Mourinho has done enough for black players, adding that he is not a racist.
He also admitted that the Portuguese approached the situation wrongly.
“I think Jose, in time, will sit there and go, ‘Maybe I approached that wrong.’ And it doesn’t make Jose Mourinho a racist by the way,” Ferdinand said.
“I think Jose Mourinho has done enough for black footballers from all over the world, who look at him like a father figure, and that is to suggest that the guy hasn’t got a racist bone in his body.”