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Mourinho says Prestianni's career under him 'will be over' if player is found guilty

AF

AFP

Published 3 months ago

Benfica coach Jose Mourinho said Sunday that if midfielder Gianluca Prestianni is found guilty of racism, his career under the Portuguese will be "over".

[p][a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/real-madrid/W8mj7MDD/"]Real Madrid[/a] star [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/vinicius-junior/CbwQ4Mws/"]Vinicius Junior[/a] accused [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/prestianni-gianluca/C2bbqoRj/"]Prestianni[/a] of racially abusing him when the teams met in a Champions League play-off clash on February 17th in Lisbon.[/p][p][b]"If, and I repeat that many times, it is proven that my player did not respect these principles, which are mine and [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/benfica/zBkyuyRI/"]Benfica[/a]'s, his career with me will be over,"[/b] Mourinho told reporters.[/p][p]Prestianni, who denies racially abusing Vinicius, is being investigated by European football governing body UEFA and was provisionally suspended for the second leg of the play-off tie. If UEFA find he abused Vinicius, then he will be banned for at least 10 matches.[/p][p]Mourinho was criticised after seeming to indicate that Vinicius provoked the alleged abuse with a dancing goal celebration after scoring in the first leg.[/p][p][b]"The presumption of innocence is a right,"[/b] added Mourinho.[/p][p][b]"If the player is indeed guilty, I will never look at him the way I have looked at him, and that's the end of it for me, but I have to put many 'ifs' in front of it."[/b][/p]

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