Vinicius Jr Reports Racist Abuse as Champions League Match Halts for 11 Minutes
Real Madrid's Vinicius Jr has described racists as "cowards" after he was allegedly subjected to racist abuse during a Champions League play-off first leg against Benfica. The match was halted for 11 minutes following the reported incident, which occurred after Vinicius scored the only goal of the game.
Altercation and Match Stoppage
Vinicius had an altercation with Benfica's Gianluca Prestianni after netting a stunning strike in the second half. The Brazilian forward celebrated in front of Benfica fans, receiving a yellow card, and then spoke with Prestianni, who covered his mouth with his shirt during the exchange. Vinicius subsequently informed referee Francois Letexier that he had been the target of racist abuse, prompting the official to activate Uefa's three-step racism protocol by crossing his arms.
The match was officially paused due to the alleged racist comment, with Vinicius visibly angered and walking off the pitch to sit with his Real Madrid teammates. Benfica manager Jose Mourinho attempted to calm the situation by speaking to players including Kylian Mbappe and Vinicius himself. Play resumed 10 minutes later, but tensions remained high, with a Benfica backroom staff member shown a red card during the break.
Post-Match Controversy and Statements
After the game, which Real Madrid won 1-0, Vinicius took to Instagram to express his frustration. He stated, "Racists are, above all, cowards. They need to put their shirts in their mouths to show how weak they are. But they have the protection of others who, theoretically, have an obligation to punish them." He added that such incidents are not new in his life or his team's, criticising the protocol as "poorly executed" and lamenting that headlines should focus on Real Madrid's victory instead.
In contrast, Prestianni issued a statement on Instagram denying any racist insults, claiming Vinicius had "regrettably misunderstood what he thought he heard." The incident will be investigated by Uefa's disciplinary authorities.
Mourinho's Comments Draw Criticism
Jose Mourinho, a former Real Madrid manager, faced backlash for his post-match comments. When asked if Vinicius had "incited" the Benfica players and crowd with his celebration, Mourinho responded, "Yeah, I believe so." He further suggested that incidents involving Vinicius happen "in every stadium," implying a pattern. Mourinho explained that he told Vinicius to simply celebrate and walk back after scoring, and reminded him that Benfica has a history of inclusivity, citing that "the biggest person in the history of this club was black."
Amazon Prime pundits, including Wayne Rooney, Clarence Seedorf, and Theo Walcott, strongly criticised Mourinho's remarks. Rooney labelled them "unfair," while Seedorf said Mourinho made a "big mistake" by seemingly justifying racial abuse. Seedorf emphasised, "We should never, ever justify racial abuse," and Walcott stated that Mourinho should not have spoken publicly about the incident.
Uefa's Racism Protocol and Match Aftermath
Uefa's three-step racism protocol allows referees to halt matches in response to racist behaviour. Step one involves stopping the game and making a public address announcement. If the behaviour continues, step two includes stopping play for five to 10 minutes and removing players from the pitch, with another announcement. Step three permits the referee to abandon the game if racism resumes, after assessing security.
In this case, referee Letexier initiated step one, leading to the 11-minute stoppage. Following the resumption, objects were thrown at Madrid players from the stands, and each touch by the visiting side was met with jeers. Mourinho was later shown a red card for protesting a referee decision, and after 12 minutes of stoppage time, Madrid secured their 1-0 lead for the second leg at the Bernabeu.
Commentator Alan Shearer noted that the ugly second half overshadowed what should have been a discussion about Vinicius's "special goal." The incident has reignited debates about racism in football, with Liverpool's Trent Alexander-Arnold calling it "a disgrace to football."
