Jose Mourinho criticised after claiming Vinicius Jr ‘incited’ racism row — and more

Jose Mourinho was criticised by Clarence Seedorf after appearing to suggest that Vinicius Jr had provoked racist abuse by celebrating his goal for Real Madrid against Benfica in the Champions League and inciting the scenes that followed.

Real Madrid forward Vinicius had sent Madrid into the lead in Lisbon with a superb strike in the early stages of the second half before dancing by the corner flag in front of the home supporters. He was booked by the referee for an excessive celebration.

Before the match resumed, Vinicius exchanged words with Benfica’s Ginaluca Prestianni and reported the player to the referee over an alleged racist remark.

In a statement on Instagram, Benfica winger Prestianni said he had not directed racist insults at Vinicius who he said had "regrettably misunderstood what he thought he heard".

But the match was paused for 11 minutes, as the referee followed Fifa’s racist abuse protocols, with Mourinho seen talking to several Madrid players, including Vinicius and Kylian Mbappe, as tensions rose in the stadium.

Mourinho was later sent off for demanding a second booking for Vinicius after a foul from the Brazilian. Mourinho stormed towards the fourth official but was himself cautioned for his protests, but continued remonstrating and was promptly shown a second yellow card.

Speaking after the match, Mourinho said he had spoken to both Vinicius and Prestianni nd could not be biased against either player. But he criticised Vinicius for his goal celebration.

“It should be the crazy moment of the game, an amazing goal in a good game... these talents are able to do these beautiful things but unfortunately he [Vinicius] was not just happy to score that astonishing goal and then the game was over. When you score a goal like that you celebrate in a respectful way.”

Mourinho was asked if Vinicius had “incited” the Benfica players and the crowd with his celebration and he responded: “Yeah, I believe so. The words they exchange, Prestianni with Vinicius, I want to be independent. I don’t comment about it.”

The Portuguese manager then revealed his own talks with Vinicius and explained what he had told the winger during the pause in play.

“I told him that when you score a goal like that you just celebrate and walk back,” Mourinho added. “And then when he was arguing about racism I told him the biggest person in the history of this club [Eusebio] was black. This club, the last thing it is is racist, so if in his mind it was something in relation to that, this is Benfica.

“There is something wrong because it happens in every stadium. Every stadium that Vinicius plays [in] something happens. Always.

“I’m saying that it was a good 50 minutes of football, millions of people watching around the world, a crazy goal absolutely crazy goal and then game over.”

Amazon Prime pundits Wayne Rooney, Clarence Seedorf and Theo Walcott seemed stunned by Mourinho’s comments with Rooney labelling them “unfair” and Seedorf saying Mourinho made a ‘big mistake’.

“As he said he’s trying to stay independent but I think it was very unfair what he said about Vinicius,” Rooney said when pressed for comment by presenter Gabby Logan.

Seedorf further explained by adding: “I think he's [Jose Mourinho] is still emotional. I think he made a big mistake today to justify racial abuse and I'm not saying that was the case today but he mentioned something more than today. He said wherever he goes these things happen, so he's saying it's okay when Vinicius provokes you, that is it okay to be racist and I think that is very wrong.

“We should never, ever justify racial abuse. And Vinicius has had enough of that unjustified behaviour from people. And I know Mourinho by heart would agree with me but he expressed himself a bit unfortunately I believe. Because we should not be telling the people at home that someone makes a dance or something then it's okay to be racist.”

Theo Walcott plainly finished: “That's the one time we shouldn't have heard from him [Mourinho], tonight he should not have been in front of the cameras.”

Arsenal travel to Molineux on Wednesday evening, aiming to stretch their lead at the top of the Premier League to seven points.

The Gunners currently hold a four-point lead over second-placed Manchester City. Mikel Arteta’s side is looking to capitalise on a fixture rearranged from next month’s Carabao Cup final weekend—a showpiece event at Wembley where Arsenal will face City on March 22, 2026. Arsenal arrive in the Midlands looking to rediscover their “killer instinct” after a frustrating 1–1 draw at Brentford last Thursday, a result that allowed the chasing pack to close in.

For the hosts, the season has been historically difficult. Wolves sit rooted to the foot of the table with just nine points from 26 matches. However, Rob Edwards’ men gained some momentum with an FA Cup win on Sunday. Despite their struggles, they nearly stunned Arsenal in the reverse fixture in December, falling only to a 94th-minute own goal in a 2–1 defeat.

Wolves vs Arsenal – Match preview and team news

• Date: Wednesday, 18 February 2026
• Kick-off: 20:00 GMT
• Venue: Molineux Stadium, Wolverhampton
• Referee: Paul Tierney
• VAR: Michael Salisbury
• Last Meeting: Arsenal 2–1 Wolves (13 Dec 2025), Premier League

Team News

Wolves

Rob Edwards has confirmed he will freshen up his starting XI following a physically demanding FA Cup tie on a difficult pitch at Grimsby. Notably, Hwang Hee-chan is ruled out for several weeks with a calf injury. Toti Gomes is also expected to miss out as he continues individual recovery from a hamstring problem sustained in the reverse fixture. Consequently, Edwards may hand returns to José Sá, Matt Doherty, and Hugo Bueno. Midfielder Andre will be assessed for a calf concern.

Arsenal

Mikel Arteta provided a mixed injury update, confirming that captain Martin Ødegaard (knee) and Kai Havertz (muscle) are ruled out of tonight’s clash but are “very hopeful” to return for Sunday’s North London derby. Mikel Merino (foot) remains a long-term absentee. In positive news, Riccardo Calafiori and Ben White are expected to be available after recovering from a minor knock and fatigue, respectively. Bukayo Saka is set to start his second consecutive match after a successful return from a hip issue.

Form

Wolves

The hosts have found a slight lift recently, taking a point from Nottingham Forest before their cup success at the weekend. Notably, Wolves have lost 10 of their 13 Premier League home games this term (W1 D2). They have failed to score in 14 different league games this season, more than any other side. However, Edwards’ men have historically shown they can trouble leaders, having beaten Manchester City earlier this campaign.

Arsenal

The Gunners arrive as the division’s form team on the road. Notably, Arsenal have won nine of their 11 Premier League visits to Molineux, the highest win rate (82%) against any side they have faced at least 10 times away. Arteta’s men have scored in each of their last 36 meetings with Wolves. Furthermore, Arsenal have won all eight of their games played on a Wednesday across all competitions this season.

Predicted Lineups

Wolves Predicted XI: Sa; Mosquera, S. Bueno, Krejci; R. Gomes, A. Gomes, Mane, J. Gomes, H. Bueno; Armstrong, Arokodare

Arsenal Predicted XI: Raya; Timber, Saliba, Gabriel, Hincapie; Rice, Zubimendi, Eze; Saka, Gyokeres, Trossard

How to Watch Wolves vs Arsenal?

The match will be broadcast live in the UK on Sky Sports Main Event and Sky Sports Premier League, with coverage starting at 19:30 GMT.

Read more- Arsenal boss Arteta encouraged by Madueke and Saka chemistry

See Also- Arsenal offered encouragement in pursuit of Spain winger

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England and Croatia are set to clash in Group L of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, creating an exciting matchup for football fans worldwide. The match is scheduled to take place during the tournament, with ticket sales now open to supporters.

Fans can find information on ticket prices, seat locations, and the exact match date through official channels. This encounter promises to be a repeat of past thrilling encounters between these two European football powerhouses.

Would it surprise you to know that Team GB's curlers are full-time?

That they train 12 months a year, with only a couple of weeks holiday during the summer? That they are actually on the ice 44 weeks a year?

That they lift weights like sprinters, strategise like chess players, and fuel like Tour de France cyclists?

It's now 24 years since Rhona Martin delivered the 'Stone of Destiny' in Salt Lake City - watched by millions of rapt viewers in the early hours UK-time - to win Winter Olympic gold for Great Britain.

The nation's first Games gold in 18 years had been won by what was dismissively - and erroneously - described at the time as a group of Scottish housewives in an odd little sport.

It sparked a curiosity in curling that spikes for a couple of weeks every four years.

But aside from that little window into their world, little is known about what they do for the remaining three years and 11 months of an Olympic cycle.

• How Team GB is leading the way in curling's arms race
• Swearing, illicit filming & rule changes - what next in curling cheating row?
• Day-by-day guide to the Winter Olympics

What kind of training do curlers do?

The 10 Scottish curlers who are representing Team GB in Cortina right now are professional athletes.

From the start of July until the end of April - when they are not at a competition somewhere in the world - they will report to the National Curling Academy in Stirling every weekday morning to start training at 08:00.

Each day includes two two-hour ice sessions and one in the gym.

Across a week, three of those gym stints are strength-based and two conditioning. Most athletes will add another at the weekend, just to keep themselves right.

They are supervised - no sitting on a bench next to the weights while doomscrolling for this lot - and are specifically designed with curling in mind.

"It's Olympic lifts we're doing - clean and jerk, snatches, squats, the lot," says men's lead Hammy McMillan. "And we're using ski machines, rowers, and assault bikes to really condition our bodies."

"The numbers we put up, I don't think people would expect them," adds Bobby Lammie, who is credited alongside McMillan as having changed the physicality expected of sweepers.

"It's allowed us to separate ourselves slightly from the rest of the world."

Similar can be said of the women's game, where 2022 gold medallist Jen Dodds - one of the world's best with a brush - is lifting just as much as some of the men.

"More than me, to be fair," admits men's vice-skip Grant Hardie.

"Jen is incredible in the gym," adds Team GB women's skip Rebecca Morrison, who takes a slightly different view of the physical work.

"You need a lot of core strength to even stay upright on the ice," she says.

"Maybe we're not flinging ourselves off massive jumps or sliding down a track at 80 miles per hour, but it's a lot harder than people realise to even keep your balance."

Add in tactical and analysis sessions, meetings with sports psychologist and nutritionists, and physio, and the days quickly become filled.

In May and June, most of those demands disappear, but the strength and conditioning work continues every weekday morning.

At some point during that spell, a couple of weeks are permitted for a holiday, but then the curlers are back at it.

"It's a full-time, all-year round job," says BBC Sport pundit Vicky Wright, who won Olympic women's gold in Beijing four years ago and is married to head coach Greg Drummond.

"May and June are supposed to be your recovery time - and you get a break at some point during those months - but you never have an actual holiday from it. You're curling 44 weeks a year, easily."

How do curlers make a living?

The curlers will be given an annual Athlete Performance Award (APA) by UK Sport.

That will be in one of five tiers so the more pedigree you have, the more money you will be given.

Wright recalls that, when she was in the Olympic cycle for the Beijing Games, she still had to work one day a week as a nurse to supplement her APA enough to get a mortgage.

None of those in Italy this month are in that position, but some pick up some coaching on the side, while others such as Grant Hardie and Sophie Sinclair have an involvement in their family's engineering and farming businesses, respectively.

Add in prize money from the Grand Slam Tour, World Tour and assorted European events - which tends to be capped at around £40,000 - plus the odd little bit of sponsorship, and the income starts to go up.

But let's be clear - none of these curlers are living in luxury, never mind making life-changing money.

"It's fine if you're at the top and winning slams week in, week out," Wright adds. "But if you're not... I'm not saying it's not worth it. It's worth it, but it's difficult."

Bruce Mouat's British men's rink - who won silver at the Olympics four years ago and went into these Games as world champions and gold medal favourites - are in a better position than most.

Their success on the ice has bolstered their APAs, and they opted to employ a management company last year to enhance their prospects away form curling.

Now, they have some commercial partners, as well as doing appearances at events as diverse as the Royal Highland Show and corporate away days.

Mouat has been known to speak to companies about LGBT issues and inclusivity, while Hardie will soon do a talk about the importance of science, technology, engineering and maths in schools.

"But the boys are definitely not making a fortune," said someone close to the team.