Vinícius Júnior Condemns Racist Abuse in Real Madrid's Victory Over Benfica
Real Madrid's Brazilian star Vinícius Júnior has launched a scathing attack on racist "cowards" following an alleged incident during his team's 1-0 win against Benfica in Lisbon. The forward accused Benfica player Gianluca Prestianni of using a racial slur, sparking a 10-minute delay and widespread condemnation from teammates and officials.
Allegations of Racist Abuse and Protocol Failure
According to reports, the controversy erupted after Vinícius celebrated scoring the only goal of the match in the 50th minute. Prestianni allegedly approached him and uttered the word "mono," meaning monkey, while covering his mouth. Vinícius immediately alerted referee Francois Letexier, who initiated the anti-racism protocol. However, the Brazilian later criticized the response as "a poorly executed protocol that served no purpose."
In a social media post, Vinícius stated, "Racists are above all cowards. They need to put their shirts in their mouths to show how weak they are. But they have by their side the protection of others who, theoretically, have the obligation to punish." He expressed frustration that the headlines should focus on Real Madrid's victory rather than such incidents.
Team Support and Calls for Action
Real Madrid coach Álvaro Arbeloa confirmed that the team was prepared to walk off in solidarity with Vinícius. "I told him that whatever he decided, we would be at his side. We will fight together always," Arbeloa said. He emphasized zero tolerance for racism, adding, "We cannot allow things like this to happen on the pitch in 2026."
Teammate Kylian Mbappé backed Vinícius's account, alleging that Prestianni used the slur multiple times. "[Prestianni] called Vinícius a monkey five times, I saw it," Mbappé asserted. "I cannot let things like this go. He's a young player, how can you say things like that on a football pitch? This type of person is no colleague, he shouldn't play the Champions League again."
Match Aftermath and Broader Reactions
Despite the tension, the game resumed after discussions among players, managers, and officials. Benfica's coach, José Mourinho, initially misunderstood the situation, questioning Vinícius's celebration style. However, he later refrained from taking sides, stating, "I do not want to say that Vinícius is a liar and nor do I want to say that my player is an incredible boy."
The incident has reignited debates about racism in football, with calls for stricter enforcement of anti-discrimination measures. As Vinícius highlighted, the focus should remain on sport, but such events underscore the ongoing challenges in combating prejudice on and off the field.
