Lisbon, Feb 18 — Real Madrid forward Vinicius Junior criticized “cowards” after accusing Benfica midfielder Gianluca Prestianni of racially abusing him during Real’s 1-0 Champions League play-off first-leg win on Tuesday.
Lisbon, Feb 18 — Real Madrid forward Vinicius Junior criticized “cowards” after accusing Benfica midfielder Gianluca Prestianni of racially abusing him during Real’s 1-0 Champions League play-off first-leg win on Tuesday.
The match was halted for over 10 minutes as French referee Francois Letexier applied a racism protocol after Vinicius claimed Prestianni called him “mono,” the Spanish word for monkey, following a confrontation between the two.
Vinicius had scored the game’s only goal in the 50th minute and celebrated in front of the Benfica crowd, which reportedly provoked fans and players. Posting on Instagram, Vinicius said: “Racists are, above all, cowards. They need to put their shirts over their mouths to show how weak they are.” He added that those responsible for enforcing discipline had failed to act.
Benfica coach Jose Mourinho defended Prestianni, who denied the racial abuse allegations, and criticized Vinicius for inciting Benfica players and fans with his celebrations. Mourinho, who was sent off late in the match, said, “There is something wrong because it happens in every stadium – where Vinicius plays, something happens, always.”
Real’s England full-back Trent Alexander-Arnold called the incident “disgusting” and a “disgrace for football.” Forward Kylian Mbappe demanded Prestianni be banned from Europe’s premier competition, while captain Federico Valverde praised Vinicius for remaining composed and performing a “spectacular game.”
Vinicius, 25, has faced racial abuse in Spain multiple times, including incidents involving Atletico Madrid and Valencia fans. The match also saw Benfica fans throw projectiles at Real players, sparking clashes between both benches before the game resumed. — AFP
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