José Mourinho said that Gianluca Prestianni will have no future at Benfica if he is found guilty of racially abusing Real Madrid's Vinícius Júnior.
The Argentine is being investigated by European governing body UEFA following accusations made by Vinícius during last month's Champions League playoff in Lisbon.
Prestianni, who denies the allegations, received a provisional one-match suspension, meaning he missed the second leg of that tie last week, which Madrid won to advance to the round of 16, while UEFA began its investigation.
The 20-year-old faces harsher punishment if convicted.
Benfica coach Mourinho was initially criticized for his response, in which he suggested Vinicius had incited the crowd with the way he celebrated his goal. He also did not condemn Prestianni.
However, on Sunday, the Portuguese told reporters before Monday's Benfica game that he was “totally opposed to any type of discrimination, prejudice, ignorance or stupidity.”
The 63-year-old coach added in a press conference: “If my player does not respect these principles, which are mine and also those of Benfica, then that player's career with a coach called José Mourinho and in a club called Benfica will come to an end.
“I am not a scholar, but I am not ignorant either. The presumption of innocence is a human right, right?
“I maintain my opinion. If the player is really guilty, I will never look at him the way I looked at him before and it's over with me.
“But I have to put a lot of 'ifs' in front of it.”
The climax came after Vinicius scored the only goal of the first leg at the start of the second half at the Estadio da Luz.
Prestianni covered his mouth with his shirt at the moment when he had allegedly directed a comment in the direction of the Brazilian.
PA information was used in this report.
