Below we leave you a detailed article in French, which analyzes José Mourinho’s explosive statements after the first leg of the Champions League play-off in Lisbon.

Scandal in Lisbon: José Mourinho’s “J’accuse” resonates in Europe

By the editorial staff – Lisbon, February 18, 2026

The Estádio da Luz was the scene of an electrifying night on Wednesday, February 18. Although Real Madrid achieved a tight but valuable 1-0 victory against Benfica, the final result was almost irrelevant in the face of the media storm unleashed by José Mourinho. Sent off during the match, the Portuguese coach not only criticized the refereeing, but openly hinted at the existence of systemic corruption aimed at protecting Real Madrid’s elite. Between accusations of favoritism, racial tensions and conspiracy theories, let’s review a night in which football lost prominence to the “Special”.

The spark of Vinícius and the chaos of Lisbon

Everything changed after a brilliant moment. In a close match, Vinícius Júnior opened the scoring with a goal that Mourinho himself described as astronomical.“It is a goal that only he or Mbappé can score.”“”El Especial” admitted with a hint of bitter admiration. However, the Brazilian’s celebration sparked a controversy, provoking the anger of the 60,000 Benfica fans.

The atmosphere became even more tense after a verbal altercation between Vinícius and the young Benfica player, Prestianni. Accusations of racism on one hand, denials on the other. When asked aboutMovistar Champions League, Mourinho refused to mediate:“Regret what? I spoke with both of them. Vinícius says one thing, Prestianni another. I don’t know the truth.”This neutrality masks a deeper criticism of the attitude of the Real Madrid forward, whom Mourinho accuses of turning every stadium into a war zone with his provocations.

The red card is too many: Mourinho breaks his silence

But the real earthquake came when Mourinho spoke about his expulsion. True to his reputation as a provocateur, the Portuguese coach did not claim that it was a simple error in judgment, but rather a deliberate strategy by the referee to favor Real Madrid.

“They didn’t expel me for reacting to Vinícius’ card. No. They expelled me because I said something very clear,”Mourinho insisted.

According to him, the referee team acted under specific instructions. The Benfica coach claimed that the referee had a kind of “secret memo” that stipulated that certain key Real Madrid players should not receive any yellow cards so as not to be suspended for the second leg at the Santiago Bernabéu.

The “untouchables” of Madrid: Tchouaméni, Carreras and Huijsen

Mourinho did not hesitate to name names, throwing to the wolves three Madrid players who supposedly benefited from diplomatic immunity on the field:Aurélien Tchouaméni, Álvaro Carreras and Dean Huijsen .

“The referee had instructions like: ‘Tchouaméni, Carreras and Huijsen must not receive a yellow card!’”Mourinho said with a wry smile.“Because if they were cautioned, they would miss the second leg. I saw Carreras and Tchouaméni commit flagrant fouls, and the referee didn’t even notice. I told him to his face: “I’ve been off the field for 1,400 games; I know exactly who can be sanctioned and who cannot be touched.”

For Mourinho, the referee ended up sending off the only person who was “easy” to sanction: himself. His brief conclusion sounded like a criticism of UEFA:“We all know how this works!”

The shock wave: is FIFA involved?

Although UEFA traditionally remains discreet in matters of this type, the magnitude of the controversy has acquired an institutional dimension. Sources close to the international governing bodies suggest that the FIFA president himself is closely following reports regarding this match. In a context where fans are increasingly demanding more transparency, the idea that a referee can receive instructions to protect certain players undermines the very integrity of the competition.

Although no formal investigation has yet been officially confirmed, the media pressure is such that world football authorities could be forced to analyze the images and radio communications of the referees from that night of February 18.

A high-risk revenge match without the “Special One”

The sporting reality is clear: Benfica lost 0-1 and will have to achieve a miracle in Madrid. But the challenge will be even greater, since Mourinho will not be able to play the band. An absence that he considers an obstacle, but that he anticipated.

“It’s a big disadvantage. I won’t be able to be in the locker room, I won’t be able to communicate directly with my players. It’s going to be very hard,”he admitted. Despite his anger, he has a cool head about the quality of his rival:“They were stronger on the field. Real Madrid deserved the victory, but the way the game was handled off the field is unacceptable.”

For Mourinho’s detractors, this is just another maneuver to mask a tactical defeat. For his fans, it is the bravery of a man who, with his 1,400 games of experience, refuses to ignore the privileges granted to the European giants.

In any case, the second leg at the Bernabéu promises to be explosive. All eyes will be on the ball, not only in the game itself, but also in each referee’s whistle. After the Lisbon debacle, any decision that favors Tchouaméni or Huijsen will be analyzed through the lens of the conspiracy denounced by Mourinho. The curtain has fallen on the first act, but for “Special One,” the war is just beginning.