Chelsea’s Rosenior calls for life bans from football for those found guilty of racism

Guardian Sport

by Ed Aarons

February 19, 2026

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Liam Rosenior, Chelsea’s head coach, has strongly condemned racism in football, calling for lifetime bans for those found guilty of racial abuse. Reflecting on the recent incident where Real Madrid’s Vinícius Júnior left the pitch after alleging racial abuse from Benfica’s Gianluca Prestianni during a Champions League match, Rosenior expressed that such incidents are deeply harmful and require severe consequences to prevent recurrence. The match saw Júnior leaving the field mid-game following the alleged racist remark. Although Prestianni denied the accusation, claiming he was a victim of a smear campaign, Benfica supported their player, stating they would fight any charges brought against him. Should Uefa find Preistiani guilty, he faces a 10-match ban. This case highlights the ongoing issue of racism in football and the need for stronger measures to address such offenses. Rosenior’s stance underscores the broader struggle

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Originally published on Guardian Sport on 2/19/2026