Vinícius Júnior Targeted with Racist Abuse During Real Madrid’s Champions League Victory Over Benfica
Lisbon, Portugal – Real Madrid’s Champions League knockout play-off match against Benfica was marred by allegations of racist abuse directed at forward Vinícius Júnior on Tuesday. The game was temporarily halted for approximately 10 minutes after Vinícius accused Benfica’s Gianluca Prestianni of racially abusing him following his opening goal in the 1-0 win for Real Madrid.
Incident Details
Vinícius Júnior scored in the 50th minute at the Estádio da Luz, celebrating in front of Benfica supporters. He received a yellow card for excessive celebration and was then confronted by Prestianni, who appeared to say something while covering his mouth. Vinícius immediately alerted referee François Letexier, pointing towards Prestianni, prompting the activation of FIFA’s anti-racism protocol and a suspension of play.
Reactions and Statements
Following the match, Vinícius Júnior took to social media, stating, “Racists are, above all, cowards. They need to put their shirts over their mouths to demonstrate how weak they are. But they have, on their side, the protection of others who, theoretically, have the obligation to punish.” He also criticized the anti-racism protocol as “poorly executed” and ineffective.
Prestianni denied the allegations in a statement posted on Instagram. “I want to clarify that at no time did I direct racist insults to Vini Jr, who regrettably misunderstood what he thought he heard,” he wrote. “I was never racist with anyone and I regret the threats I received from Real Madrid players.”
Benfica released a video on social media, arguing that the distance between the players made it unlikely that Real Madrid’s squad could have overheard any alleged racist remarks. Benfica midfielder Leandro Barreiro stated that Prestianni told teammates he had provoked Vinícius but denied using racist language, claiming it was a “normal provocation between players during a match.”
Support from Teammates and Criticism of Mourinho
Vinícius Júnior received strong support from his Real Madrid teammates. Kylian Mbappé alleged that Prestianni repeatedly called Vinícius a “monkey” and argued that the Argentinian player should be banned from the Champions League. Aurélien Tchouaméni and Federico Valverde also corroborated Vinícius’s account of the incident.
Benfica manager José Mourinho faced criticism for comments that appeared to suggest Vinícius provoked the incident with his celebration. Mourinho questioned why Vinícius celebrated in a manner he deemed disrespectful, referencing legendary players like Eusébio, Pelé and Di Stéfano. He also alluded to previous incidents of racism directed at Vinícius in Spain.
Further Investigation
UEFA announced it is analyzing official match reports and will launch investigations if necessary. Under UEFA regulations, a player found guilty of racist insults faces a minimum suspension of 10 matches. Vinícius Júnior has filed 18 legal complaints regarding racist abuse since 2022, with three Valencia supporters convicted and jailed in June 2024 for racially abusing him during a La Liga match.
The second leg of the Champions League play-off is scheduled to be played at the Santiago Bernabéu on February 26th.