Vinicius Racism: Footballers & Fans Condemn Abuse & Demand Action | Real Madrid, Benfica & Mbappé News
LISBON – A Champions League knockout stage play-off match between Benfica and Real Madrid was halted for ten minutes on , after Real Madrid’s Vinicius Júnior reported alleged racist abuse from Benfica’s Gianluca Prestianni following his opening goal. The incident, occurring in the 50th minute at the Estádio da Luz, has ignited a fresh wave of condemnation regarding racism in football and prompted calls for decisive action.
Vinicius Júnior, after scoring to give Real Madrid a 1-0 lead, was subjected to a yellow card for his celebration. He then approached referee François Letexier, gesturing towards Prestianni and alleging racial abuse. Letexier immediately invoked FIFA’s anti-racism protocol, leading to a temporary suspension of play as Vinicius briefly left the pitch, followed by his Real Madrid teammates.
Following the resumption of play, Real Madrid secured a 1-0 victory, but the result was overshadowed by the disturbing allegations. Prestianni swiftly denied the accusations via an Instagram post, claiming Vinicius “misinterpreted what he thought he heard.” He further stated he had “never been racist with anyone” and expressed regret over threats received from Real Madrid players in response.
The incident has drawn widespread condemnation from within the football community. Kylian Mbappé, Real Madrid’s forward, offered a strong defense of Vinicius, alleging he personally overheard Prestianni making racist remarks. “There’s Benfica’s No. 25… that started speaking badly,” Mbappé told Spanish TVE. “Then he pulled his jersey up to here [covering his mouth] to say that Vini is a monkey five times. I heard it. There are Benfica players that also heard it.”
Benfica countered Mbappé’s claims, arguing that the noise of the stadium and the distance between the players would have made it difficult to discern any alleged abuse. However, this explanation has done little to quell the outrage.
This is not an isolated incident for Vinicius Júnior. Reports indicate this is the 26th instance of alleged racist abuse directed towards the Brazilian forward during his career. The repeated nature of these allegations underscores a systemic problem within the sport, prompting renewed calls for stronger penalties and preventative measures.
UEFA has responded by appointing a special investigator to gather evidence and determine the appropriate course of action. Prestianni faces a potential ten-match ban if found guilty of racial abuse under UEFA’s disciplinary code.
The incident also sparked reaction from other figures within the football world. Thibaut Courtois, goalkeeper for Real Madrid, emphasized the need for immediate action to eradicate racism from the game. “It is now the moment to put an end to this,” Courtois stated.
Wesley Sneijder, a former Dutch international, received “thousands of death threats” after expressing his views on the incident, highlighting the intense emotions surrounding the issue. The threats underscore the volatile atmosphere and the passionate responses elicited by incidents of racism in football.
Real Madrid coach Álvaro Arbeloa confirmed after the match that the allegation against Prestianni had been made. Vinicius himself released a statement on Instagram, condemning the abuse and expressing his frustration with the handling of such incidents. “Racists are, above all, cowards,” he wrote. “I received a yellow card for celebrating a goal. I still don’t understand why. It was just a poorly executed protocol that served no purpose.”
The match was not without further incident. During the stoppage time, an object thrown from the crowd struck Vinicius on the arm, adding another layer of concern regarding player safety and fan behavior.
The first leg concluded with Real Madrid holding a 1-0 advantage heading into the second leg at the Santiago Bernabéu. However, the focus remains firmly on the allegations of racism and the urgent need for effective measures to combat this pervasive issue within football. The outcome of the UEFA investigation and any subsequent disciplinary action will be closely watched as the sport grapples with this ongoing challenge.