Vinicius Speaks Out After Benfica Clash
Vinicius Junior sent a clear message to his followers on Instagram. He called racists “cowards” and said this was not the first time he had faced abuse. He also questioned why the referee booked him for celebrating his goal.
Throughout his career, the Real Madrid winger has repeatedly spoken against racism. He has faced abuse in Spain and across Europe, and he continues to call it out publicly.
In his career, Vinicius spoke out against racism on numerous occasions. He received abuse while playing in Europe and Spain.
Benfica defends Prestianni
However, Gianluca Prestianni rejected the accusation. In a post on social media, he said Vinicius misunderstood his words. He insisted that he did not use any racist language.
Meanwhile, Benfica defended their 20 year old midfielder. The club shared a video on X and argued that Real Madrid players stood too far away to hear any alleged comment. Because of that distance, Benfica believes the claim does not match the footage.
Mourinho questions about celebration
During the break, Jose Mourinho spoke directly with Vinicius. After the match, he explained that both players gave different accounts of the exchange. Therefore, he decided not to support either side.
At the same time, Mourinho criticized the goal celebration. In his view, a player who scores an important goal should celebrate with respect. When reporters asked if Vinicius provoked the crowd, Mourinho said he believed the celebration added tension.
In addition, the Benfica coach pointed to club legend Eusebio as proof that the club does not tolerate racism. He stressed that Benfica’s history speaks for itself.
Football Players react strongly
Theo Walcott criticized Mourinho as well. Theo Walcott said that Mourinho made a bad choice in making his comments.
Kylian Mbappe demanded strong action. Uefa should take this issue very seriously and be clear about it. He stated that any player found to be in violation of the rules would not be allowed to play in the Champions League.
What’s next?
Uefa opened an investigation. The case will be examined by an inspector in charge of disciplinary and ethical matters. Soon, the organization will provide an update.
Prestianni will not be allowed to play in European competitions for 10 games if investigators find him guilty. This rule was introduced by Uefa in 2013, under Gianni Infantino.
In 2021, a similar penalty was handed out after a Europa League match between Slavia Prague and Rangers. Ondrej Koudel received a ten-match ban for insulting Glen Kamara in racial terms.
