Jose Mourinho sent off as Champions League clash descends into chaos after Vinicius Jr racism accusation

Jose Mourinho was sent off in the dying stages as Benfica slipped to a 1-0 Champions League defeat against Real Madrid.

On a night when tempers flared at the Estadio da Luz, the Special One was sent to the stands for dissent as his side chased an equaliser.

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Mourinho angrily appealed to the referee from the touchline, with the official rushing over to originally give him a yellow card.

But things quickly escalated and he was unable to control his temper, resulting in him receiving a red instead.

Play halted

Prior to his dismissal, the match was halted for ten minutes after an incident of alleged racist abuse aimed at Vinicius Junior.

The Brazilian superbly fired Real Madrid into a 50th-minute lead before celebrating in front of Benfica fans.

He was targeted by objects thrown from the crowd and subsequently shown a yellow card for his actions.

Vinicius Jr then spoke to French referee Francois Letexier to inform him that he had been racially abused by Benfica player Gianluca Prestianni.

The official then invoked FIFA’s ‘No Racism Gesture’ by crossing his arms in an X shape above his head.

Following his dismissal, Mourinho appeared to see the funny side by leaving those around him in stitches.

The 63-year-old positioned himself close enough to the bench to still have some impact in his side’s display.

Former referee Mark Clattenburg told Amazon Prime: “It will be interesting to see what Uefa’s delegate does because he is still in the technical area where the Benfica technical staff are, and he should be further away, so he can coach his team from that technical area.”

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Meanwhile co-commentator Alan Shearer, said: “Not that we thought he would slow down or change, but it is very Mourinho-like.”

What did Mourinho say about his sending off?

“I was sent off because I told the referee the truth, they don’t like the truth,” the ex-Chelsea, Manchester United and Tottenham manger said.

“We’re in an extremely difficult situation…in this moment, we’re losing 1-0 but we have a second match to play against one of the best teams in the world, it won’t be easy but we’re alive.”

The sending off means the Portuguese tactician will miss next Wednesday’s second leg at the Bernabeu.

There was no repeat of last month’s chaotic 4-2 win for Benfica which saw goalkeeper Anatoliy Trubin score a last-gasp header to keep Benfica in the competition

Real Madrid hold a slender lead ahead of next week’s decisive clash with a place in the round of 16 at stake.

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Should Los Blanco’s finish the job in eight days time then a clash against either Sporting CP or Manchester City awaits next month