Liam Rosenior: Chelsea prepared to abandon a match if faced with racist abuse | OneFootball

Blues boss spoke after Vinicius Jr reported alleged abuse in Real Madrid’s Champions League match against Benfica

Liam Rosenior has said he would lead his Chelsea team off the pitch if any of his players were subjected to racist abuse that was not appropriately dealt with during a game.

Real forward Vinicius Jr reported racial abuse by a Benfica player to referee Francois Letexier during the match.

Real Madrid have since given evidence to a UEFA investigation in which they claim the Benfica player in question was Gianluca Prestianni.

Prestianni denies racially abusing Vinicius Jr.

Vinicius Jr reported being the target of racist abuse during a Champions League match against Benfica

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Rosenior would not be drawn on the specific comments made by Mourinho, twice a former Chelsea manager, but spoke at length about the issues racism still causes within football and how he would react if one of his players became a victim of racist abuse.

“Racism is a judgment you make based on not having information about that person,” said Rosenior, one of two black head coaches currently working in the Premier League.

“I'm not going to make a judgment unless I know the full facts. If I categorically heard racism and nothing was done about it, I would take my team off the pitch, I wouldn’t play the game.

“I’m really lucky. I’m mixed heritage. My dad is black, my mum is white. What I learned in my life is everyone is pretty much the same. We have to find a way to realise that and not create more division based on many things, not just race.”

The 41-year-old continued: “I've been racially abused myself. I know people who have been racially abused. I think now everybody knows it's wrong. Everybody knows it's wrong. When are things going to change?

“I think a lot of people are affected by what they see in the media, what they see in social media, what people's judgments are on people. I see so much divisiveness now. It's not right.

“But when you are a footballer, you put on a jersey for any team, you're representing that club, you're representing a wider sport, you're a role model to society, it's unacceptable.

“And if anyone's found guilty, then there needs to be harsh consequences for whoever's found guilty for that. But again, it's based on the context of the situation.”

Liam Rosenior is one of just two black head coaches currently working in the Premier League

AFP via Getty Images

Rosenior was asked whether longer bans for players or managers found guilty of racist abuse might reduce its prevalence within the game.

“I don’t know — I can't speak for people who don't understand why you would be racist in the first place, to be honest,” he said.

“I can't speak on those things. There is an investigation happening [after Benfica versus Real]. I'm speaking about the wider issue of racism or any prejudgment about anyone.

“It's just wrong. In this sport, we are in the public eye, we need to be aware of that, we need to conduct ourselves in the right manner.

“My reaction is: it's unacceptable, it should never happen and hopefully it never happens again, although sadly I think it probably will.”