Vinicius Junior Denounces Racist Abuse as 'Cowardly' After Benfica Match Incident
Real Madrid forward Vinicius Junior has issued a powerful response to alleged racist abuse during his team's Champions League victory over Benfica, declaring that "racists are cowards." The 25-year-old Brazilian star left the pitch in Lisbon after reporting an incident involving Benfica winger Gianluca Prestianni to referee Francois Letexier, leading to a significant disruption in play.
Match Stoppage and UEFA Protocol Under Scrutiny
The flashpoint occurred shortly after Vinicius scored a spectacular individual goal five minutes into the second half, giving Real Madrid a 1-0 lead. After celebrating in front of home fans, he became visibly upset and immediately alerted the match official. In accordance with UEFA regulations, the game was paused for approximately 10 minutes, though Vinicius ultimately completed the full match.
Post-match, Vinicius expressed frustration with UEFA's anti-racism protocol implementation on his Instagram story, writing in Portuguese: "Racists are, above all, cowards. 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." He added that such incidents were "nothing new" in his life and family's experience.
Conflicting Accounts and Managerial Controversy
Gianluca Prestianni vehemently denied the allegations through a Portuguese statement shared by Benfica on social media, claiming: "I want to clarify that at no time did I direct racist insults to Vini Jr, who regrettably misunderstood what he thought he heard." The winger expressed regret over threats received from Real Madrid players during the heated encounter.
Benfica manager Jose Mourinho faced criticism for his post-match comments suggesting Vinicius had provoked the abuse, telling Amazon Prime: "I told him, when you score a goal like that you just celebrate and walk back." Mourinho referenced previous incidents involving the Brazilian forward, noting: "There is something wrong because it happens in every stadium. A stadium where Vinicius plays something happens, always."
Football Community Condemns Incident
Former Real Madrid midfielder Clarence Seedorf, working as a pundit, strongly criticized Mourinho's remarks: "I think he made a big mistake today to justify racial abuse... We should never, ever justify racial abuse." England defender Trent Alexander-Arnold echoed this sentiment, calling the incident "a disgrace to football" that overshadowed an otherwise brilliant performance.
UEFA confirmed it is reviewing official reports from Tuesday's matches, stating: "Where matters are reported, proceedings are opened and, should they lead to disciplinary sanctions being imposed, they are announced on the UEFA disciplinary website." The governing body declined further comment while investigations continue.
Historical Context of Racist Abuse in Football
This incident adds to Vinicius Junior's ongoing battle against racism in football stadiums. In November 2024, he revealed: "I play in Spain, where I suffered a lot and still suffer." A landmark case occurred in June 2024 when three Valencia fans received eight-month prison sentences for racially abusing him during a May 2023 LaLiga match - the first such conviction in Spanish football history.
The controversy highlights persistent challenges in combating racism within European football, despite established protocols and increasing awareness campaigns. As investigations proceed, the football world awaits UEFA's disciplinary decisions while supporting players facing such unacceptable behavior.
