LISBON, Portugal – A Champions League playoff match between Benfica and Real Madrid was overshadowed Tuesday night by allegations of racist abuse directed at Real Madrid forward Vinícius Júnior. The incident, which occurred during and after Vinícius’s goal in the 50th minute of the first leg, led to a 10-minute delay and sparked outrage from players and coaches alike.
Vinícius scored with a stunning curling shot, giving Real Madrid a 1-0 lead. His celebration, which included cupping his ear to the Benfica crowd and dancing at the corner flag, drew the ire of home supporters and resulted in objects being thrown towards him. Following a confrontation with Benfica winger Gianluca Prestianni, Vinícius alerted the referee, François Letexier, to alleged racist abuse.
“Racists are above all cowards,” Vinícius wrote on social media following the match. “They need to put their shirts in their mouths to show how weak they are. But they have by their side the protection of others who, theoretically, have the obligation to punish.” He also criticized what he described as “a poorly executed protocol that served no purpose,” expressing frustration that the incident detracted from Real Madrid’s victory.
The referee activated the anti-racism protocol, and play was briefly suspended as officials consulted with players and managers. Despite the disruption, the match resumed after a 10-minute delay, with Real Madrid ultimately holding onto their 1-0 advantage.
Kylian Mbappé, a teammate of Vinícius at Real Madrid, was particularly vocal in his condemnation of the alleged abuse. “Prestianni called Vinícius a monkey five times, I saw it,” Mbappé stated. “let things like this go. He’s a young player. How can you say things like that on a football pitch?” Mbappé went on to suggest that Prestianni should be banned from the Champions League.
Real Madrid coach Álvaro Arbeloa confirmed that the team was prepared to leave the field in support of Vinícius. “I told him that whatever he decided, we would be at his side. We will fight together always,” Arbeloa said. “The referee said he hadn’t heard anything and that in that situation he can’t do anything. Whatever Vinícius had decided, we would have done. We cannot tolerate this.”
Prestianni, however, denied the allegations, posting on Instagram that he “never directed racist insults” towards Vinícius and that the Brazilian had “misunderstood” what he thought he heard. He also expressed regret over threats he had received from Real Madrid players.
Benfica manager José Mourinho offered a more nuanced perspective, acknowledging the incident while also questioning Vinícius’s celebration. “I spoke to Álvaro [during the stoppage] before I understood what the problem was, just to say: ‘This guy scores a goal that’s out of this world, why does he being stupid in the corner?’ Then later when I realise, [and] it seems Vinícius doesn’t want to play, we were talking about [whether] we play again,” Mourinho explained. He added that he didn’t want to label either Vinícius or Prestianni as liars, but rather to respect their individual perspectives.
Mourinho also questioned why Vinícius felt the need to celebrate in a provocative manner in front of the opposing fans, referencing legendary players like Di Stéfano, Pelé, and Eusébio as examples of more respectful celebrations. “Why not celebrate like Di Stéfano, Pelé, Eusébio, just with the happiness of being a player from another world?” he asked.
This is not an isolated incident for Vinícius Júnior, who has been the target of racist abuse on numerous occasions since 2022, with 18 legal complaints filed against perpetrators. The latest incident is likely to reignite the debate surrounding racism in football and the effectiveness of existing anti-racism protocols. The second leg of the Champions League playoff between Benfica and Real Madrid is scheduled to be played at the Santiago Bernabéu, where the issue of player safety and the prevention of racist behavior will undoubtedly be at the forefront of concerns.
