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The original was posted on /r/soccer by /u/Sparky-moon on 2026-02-19 08:58:33+00:00.
Original Title: Lilian Thuram on José‘s comments on Vini: “Who are you, Mr. Mourinho, to decide what Vinicius has the right to do or not do? There is a sense of superiority and white narcissism in this judgment. The racist act against Vinicius is not related to his behaviour, but to the colour of his skin.”
You said you absolutely wanted to talk about José Mourinho’s comments?
Yes, because the nature of his comments says a lot about why we’re not moving forward. Mourinho is a great coach with an exceptional career. He has worked with many Black players in his life, yet that doesn’t stop him, first, from doubting the veracity of the racist act and, second, from questioning the responsibility of the victim (Vinicius) through the way he celebrated his goal. But how can he say that?
But who are you, Mr. Mourinho, to decide what Vinicius has the right to do or not? There is a sense of superiority and white narcissism in this judgment. The act of racism to which Vinicius was subjected is not related to his behavior, but to the color of his skin. Do you believe that children who are victims of racist acts at school or in football are targeted because of their behaviour? No.
So what should be done? Should Vinicius and children come to football with a different skin colour? Mourinho suggests that it may be Vinicius’s fault. That he asked for it, in short. This is utterly violent. The sense of superiority that some white people have prevents them from putting themselves in the victims’ shoes. They need to be more humble. And how can we not take what the players say into consideration? So that’s it, Vinicius is crazy, he made up an insult and rushed towards the referee? Mbappé heard it too, and Mbappé is crazy too? Black people are crazy, is that it? They’re paranoid and make up stories…
When Mourinho wants us to believe that Vinicius is responsible for the racism he suffers, it’s pathetic. With this analysis, he becomes a small person, a little man. As long as there is behavior like this, we will not all be united in the fight. And that’s also the story of racism. Mourinho does not analyze the racist act as a man but as a white man. We don’t have to think through the lens of his skin color.
“The problems of racism must be addressed first and foremost by the white population.”
Aren’t you afraid of stigmatizing the white population and pointing the finger at them?
I believe that the problems of racism must be addressed first and foremost by the white population. Why did the Benfica player call Vinicius a monkey, reducing him to the status of an animal? Because he’s saying, “I’m a white man, I’m a human being, you’re a black man, you’re an animal.” White people should all agree that this is unacceptable and that it has to stop. All of them. On that day, we will move forward. White people need to understand the extent of this violence and realize how hurtful it is to be called a monkey.
When you haven’t experienced this because you’re white, you can’t understand, so listen to those who suffer from racism and don’t tell them how they should behave, because that behavior only reinforces your sense of superiority. Don’t try to make Vinicius believe that if he had behaved properly, he wouldn’t have been a victim. What I like about Vinicius is that he speaks out, he stands up for himself, he doesn’t let himself be pushed around. I grew up with the idea that when you’re black, you have to stay in your place, not rock the boat, and accept your lot in life. Vinicius is fighting against that too.
What are your thoughts on what happened Tuesday night in Lisbon?
I think to myself that it’s 2026, and in 2026, we can still humiliate Black people on the field. Because racism is humiliation. And I notice that people are still questioning what happened. Yet Vinicius recounted the facts, Kylian Mbappé recounted the facts. But no, that’s not enough, the doubt persists, we’re not sure. But why don’t we believe these two players? Because the word of Black men is not reliable? This episode says a lot about the history of racism. It’s always the same: you report an act of which you have been a victim, and it’s you who is doubted. It’s the same for women who are victims of violence or rape. The idea of doubting the victim is always there, and that’s why it’s always very difficult to report what happened.
We see this in the Epstein case (1) and it’s the same in cases of racism. But Vinicius reported the situation, the referee (Frenchman François Letexier) heard him and accepted his word. That’s the right attitude, and well done to the referee for taking responsibility. That’s how we’ll move forward. We mustn’t be afraid to denounce what happened. Even if you know full well, and this is the paradox, that you’re going to be blamed for stopping the match. The whole stadium will be angry with you, people will say, “What’s he complaining about now?” Society doesn’t like to be confronted with its own violence.
(1) Jeffrey Epstein, an American businessman, has been linked to several child sex abuse scandals. He pleaded guilty to charges of soliciting prostitution and soliciting prostitution from a minor, and was sentenced to 18 months in prison in June 2008. He then committed suicide in prison on August 10, 2019, after being arrested a month earlier for sex trafficking.
Did you see the footage from the game? Prestianni covering his mouth with his jersey? Mbappé’s reaction? Vinicius and Mbappé’s statements in the mixed zone after the game?
Yes, I saw it all. Above all, I saw yet another white man calling a black man a monkey. And I say this calmly, quietly, because that’s the reality of racism: you can be belittled because of the color of your skin. I liked the way Mbappé confronted the Benfica player, who looked completely sheepish. When you’re a victim, you have to stand up for yourself, you have to respond, you can’t hide anymore. You don’t negotiate with racism or violence. The shame has to shift to the other side.
Why do you say that those responsible for eradicating racism are not doing so?
Because it’s a long and old story. And if black people have historically been belittled, it’s because white people too often derive pleasure from it. It’s unconscious, but it’s a fact. The first instinct of white people is not to put themselves in the other person’s shoes to understand how the victim of a racist act feels. They are unaware of the violence suffered, and that is why such acts continue in 2026.
When you’re white, you may not have that sensitivity because you don’t have the same experiences as those who are victims, you don’t understand, and you tend to minimize things. At the Estadio da Luz, most of the people were white, and they blamed Vinicius. But how can you blame Vinicius for being called a monkey by a guy who does the same job as him?