'Anyone guilty of racism shouldn’t be in Football' - Chelsea boss Liam Rosenior demands Lifetime ban

Chelsea head coach Liam Rosenior said anyone found guilty of racism should be removed from football following allegations involving Vinícius Júnior and Benfica’s Gianluca Prestianni.

Chelsea coach, Liam Rosenior has stated that any player, coach, or manager found guilty of racism “shouldn’t be in the game,” following allegations during a Champions League clash involving Vinicius Junior.

The comments come amid a UEFA investigation into claims that Vinícius was racially abused during Real Madrid CF’s 1-0 victory over Benfica in Lisbon. The allegation reportedly involves Benfica midfielder Gianluca Prestianni.

What Rosenior said

Speaking to reporters, Rosenior declined to address the specifics of the ongoing case but made his stance clear.

“If any player, any coach, or any manager is found guilty of racism, they shouldn’t be in the game. It’s as simple as that,” he said.

He added, “Any form of racism in society, not just football, is unacceptable.”

Rosenior, who has previously spoken about his own experiences with discrimination, expressed empathy for the Brazilian winger.

“I have been racially abused myself. When you are judged for something you should be proud of, it is the worst feeling you can ever imagine,” he revealed.

Rosenior emphasised that racism in football reflects deeper societal divisions and called for stricter accountability measures.

“There needs to be more accountability. People are prejudged based on their background, religion, nationality, or the colour of their skin. Everybody should be judged equally based on the content of their character,” he added.