The chair of Kick It Out, Sanjay Bhandari, has criticized Benfica and manager Jose Mourinho for their handling of a racism controversy involving the Portuguese club and Real Madrid. Bhandari stated that Benfica's lack of support and Mourinho's response has "set the tone" in the ongoing dispute.

The comments come amid heightened scrutiny of racism in football, with Kick It Out serving as football's equality and inclusion organization in England. The organization has been vocal about addressing discrimination in the sport, making their criticism of Benfica particularly significant given the international nature of the incident.

This development highlights the growing pressure on football clubs to respond appropriately to racism allegations. The criticism from Kick It Out suggests that Benfica's handling of the situation may have fallen short of expected standards, potentially damaging the club's reputation in the broader football community.