Mourinho's Red Card Steals Benfica-Real Madrid Showdown
17 February 2026
Special One delivers another controversial moment.
Mourinho red card steals Benfica–Real Madrid showdown
The Benfica-Real Madrid playoff clash in the first leg of the Champions League knockout produced a dramatic moment starring Jose Mourinho.
The teams met on Tuesday at the Estádio da Luz, with Madrid leading through a Vinícius Júnior strike in the 50th minute.
Two yellows, red card; and a race row in the stands
In the 85th minute, Mourinho was at the center of the drama, being sent off from the technical area after receiving two consecutive yellow cards.
The dismissal followed a collision where Colombian Richard Ríos went down after a challenge by Vinícius near the penalty area.
French referee François Letexier awarded a free kick to Benfica, but Mourinho, unhappy at a perceived lack of a second yellow for Vinícius, charged the fourth official to protest.
The evening also saw earlier pauses after Vinícius alleged racist abuse, triggering UEFA's anti-racism protocol as tensions flared.
Punchline 1: If drama sold tickets, this match would be a full house for life. Punchline 2: The yellow cards clearly filed a complaint about workload after this show.
