It’s the year 2026.

Why is racism still justified?

It is wrong. It is a hate crime. It is dehumanising. And yet, in football, the game that prides itself on unity still finds a way to survive.

The latest incident surrounding Vinicius Junior during a Champions League fixture against Benfica once again exposed the uncomfortable truth. A Benfica player covering his mouth to utter a racial slur towards the Brazilian winger sparked widespread outrage. Messages of support flooded social media. Campaign slogans were shared. Statements from players and clubs had been released.

However, alongside the support came a familiar shift in tone. The conversation moved from the acts of racism to the behaviour of the victim.

Brazilians have long been known to dance after scoring goals, yet when Vinicius does it, it’s labelled “provocative.” The narrative then turns to: if he hadn’t celebrated like that and hadn’t danced in front of the Benfica fans, the reactions wouldn’t have followed.

This logic is not only flawed, but it’s incredibly dangerous.

The game we love thrives off passion and expression, football encourages flair, emotion and individuality. When a player scores, they celebrate. They silence the hostile crowd it becomes part of the theatre of sport. But all of a sudden, when a black player wants to show a sense of confidence, it is rebranded as arrogance. When they respond to the hostility, it becomes justification for even more hostility.

Benfica manager Jose Mourinho suggested that Vinicius was provoking fans. That comment, whether intentional or not, is troubling to me. Especially considering the history Jose has with African greats in the game. Suggesting provocation risks shifting responsibility away from those committing the abuse and onto the player enduring it.

It is a subtle yet significant deflection.

Similarly, when PSG manager Luis Enrique was asked about the incident and appeared to downplay its importance, it shed light on another recurring issue: fatigue. Racism in football has become so frequent that the response just feels rehearsed. Outrage flares up, statements are issued, and then attention moves on.

Luckily, not everyone responded with indifference.

Pep Guardiola took a route that makes complete sense to me. He mentioned that “Racism is a societal issue,”  and that we shouldn’t be focused on people in football having systems in place to prevent these ongoing issues, but schools and education systems must be the main focus, as from an early age, we must teach the next generation how to deal with the issues that we are currently facing.

Vincent Kompany offered a pointed and historically grounded perspective. Addressing that a club’s past, specifically the legacy of Eusebio, can somehow be served as evidence against present-day racism, Kompany dismantled that argument with clarity.

“You were not there when Eusebio was going to match days away from home,” he said. “You do not know what he had to go through.”

That statement cuts through the comfort of selective memory. Pointing to a black icon in a club’s history does not erase the experiences of racism that the player had to endure. Nor does it protect modern supporters from taking accountability. History should not be used as a protective barrier against present wrongdoing.

The deeper question remains: Is football actually handling racism effectively?

Governing bodies enforce fines. Stadium bans are occasionally handed out. “No to Racism” campaigns are often promoted before kickoff. Yet the endless cycle of incidents suggests that these protocols in place are weak. It starts with abuse, condemnation, investigation and then silence.

Meanwhile, players are expected to remain composed and “rise above the abuse.”

Why is the burden always placed on them?

Why must the victim prove resilience while institutions prove patience?

Racism in football is nothing new. It is certainly not accidental. And it is not solved through branding exercises. Real progress comes from consistent punishment, education at all levels, and a refusal to shift blame to those who have been targeted.

It is 2026, the game is more global, richer and more popular than ever. There is no room for excuses.

Celebration is not provocative.

Expression is not justification.

Racism is Racism.

Football must decide whether it truly wants to eradicate it or continue to merely respond when it becomes impossible to ignore.