Benfica coach Jose Mourinho says Gianluca Prestianni’s career under him will be “over” if he is guilty of racially abusing Real Madrid’s Vinicius Jr.
Prestianni, 20, was accused by Vinicius during the first leg of their Champions League knockout phase play-off tie in Lisbon on 17 February.
The Argentine, who denies racially abusing Vinicius, missed the second leg after being given a provisional one-match ban by Uefa pending the result of a full investigation by an ethics and disciplinary inspector.
He could be punished further once that is complete.
Mourinho was criticised for saying after the match he believed Vinicius had incited the crowd by dancing at the corner flag after scoring the only goal of the game.
Speaking on Sunday, Mourinho said he was “completely, utterly opposed to any kind of discrimination or prejudice, or ignorance, or stupidity”.
“If my player did not respect these principles, which are mine and Benfica’s as well, then that player’s career with a coach named Jose Mourinho and at a club named Benfica will come to an end,” the 63-year-old said.
“I am not a scholar, but I am not ignorant either. The presumption of innocence is a human right, isn’t it?
“I stand by my opinion. If the player is indeed guilty, I will never look at him the way I looked at him before, and with me, it’s over.
“But I have to put many ‘ifs’ in front of it.”