Vinicius affair: Rio Ferdinand stands up for José Mourinho | OneFootball

Rio Ferdinand defends José Mourinho with reservations

Vinicius affair: Rio Ferdinand stands up for José Mourinho

Just hours before the Champions League playoff second leg between Real Madrid and Benfica, José Mourinho's comments on the Vinicius Jr affair continue to spark debate in England.

Asked about the controversy, Rio Ferdinand came to the defense of the Portuguese manager, though he admitted Mourinho mishandled the situation.

"I think that, with time, José will sit down and maybe admit he was wrong in how he approached this. That doesn’t make José Mourinho a racist. He has done enough for Black footballers around the world, who see him as a father figure, to suggest there isn’t a single racist bone in his body. I just think he handled this situation poorly, unfortunately. I’d actually love to hear what he thinks about it today," said the Manchester United legend on his podcast Vibe With Five.