Vinicius Junior Condemns Racist Abuse After Champions League Incident
Real Madrid forward Vinicius Junior has issued a powerful statement labelling racists as "cowards" following an alleged incident of abuse during his team's Champions League victory over Benfica. The 25-year-old Brazilian international reported the matter to the match referee, leading to a significant pause in play at the Estadio da Luz in Lisbon.
Match Stoppage and Controversial Comments
In accordance with UEFA regulations, the game was halted for approximately ten minutes after Vinicius informed officials about comments made by a member of the Benfica squad. Spanish media later identified the player involved as winger Gianluca Prestianni. Despite the disruption, Vinicius completed the full ninety minutes, having earlier scored a spectacular individual goal to secure a 1-0 win for Real Madrid.
The controversy erupted shortly after Vinicius celebrated his second-half strike in front of home supporters. Witnesses observed the player becoming visibly distressed before immediately approaching the referee to report the incident. Following the match, Vinicius took to Instagram to express his frustration in a Portuguese-language post.
"Racists are, above all, cowards," wrote the forward. "They need to put their shirts in their mouths to demonstrate how weak they are. But they have protection from others who, theoretically, have the obligation to punish. Nothing that happened today is new in my life and my family's."
Vinicius also revealed he received a yellow card for his goal celebration, questioning the referee's decision while criticising what he described as a "poorly executed protocol" in response to the abuse. "I don't like to appear in situations like this," he added, "even more so after a great victory when the headlines have to be about Real Madrid, but it's necessary."
Managerial Reaction and Player Backlash
Benfica manager Jose Mourinho faced immediate criticism for his post-match comments, which some interpreted as suggesting Vinicius had provoked the abuse. Speaking to Amazon Prime, Mourinho stated: "I told him, when you score a goal like that you just celebrate and walk back. They told me different things. But I don't believe in one or another. I want to be an independent."
The Portuguese coach then referenced previous incidents involving Vinicius, remarking: "There is something wrong because it happens in every stadium. A stadium where Vinicius plays something happens, always."
Former Real Madrid midfielder Clarence Seedorf, working as a pundit for the broadcast, strongly condemned Mourinho's remarks. "I think he made a big mistake today to justify racial abuse," Seedorf asserted. "He said wherever he goes these things happen, so he's saying it's OK when Vinicius provokes you, that it is OK to be racist. We should never, ever justify racial abuse."
England defender Trent Alexander-Arnold, who was also covering the match, described the incident as "a disgrace to football" that overshadowed an otherwise impressive performance. "Vini has been subject to this a few times throughout his career," Alexander-Arnold noted. "To ruin a night like this for our team is a disgrace. No place for it in football or society. It is disgusting."
Historical Context of Racial Abuse
This latest incident adds to a troubling pattern of racist abuse directed at Vinicius during his career in Spain. The forward has been vocal about his experiences, stating in November 2024: "I play in Spain, where I suffered a lot and still suffer." In a landmark legal case, three Valencia supporters received eight-month prison sentences in June 2024 for racially abusing Vinicius during a LaLiga match in May 2023—the first conviction of its kind in Spanish football history.
The Champions League encounter in Lisbon has reignited discussions about football's ongoing struggle with racism in stadiums, with players, pundits, and fans alike calling for stronger action and unequivocal condemnation of such behaviour at all levels of the sport.
