Racist insults against Vinicius Junior have become revoltingly common on European football pitches. The Brazilian star has already opened more than two dozen cases with the Spanish courts, and two of them resulted in historic convictions. In the game between Benfica and Real Madrid, this Tuesday the 17th in Lisbon, the infamy escalated to a new standard. For the first time, Vinicius’ accusations were directed at a professional colleague.
While teammates and even idols from other clubs rushed to support the Brazilian team’s striker, Lisbon’s Benfica declared he “fully believes” in the version presented by his player.
Five minutes into the second half, Vinicius danced in a disconcerting manner in front of Benfica full-back Amar Dedic, hit a curved shot beyond the reach of the opposing goalkeeper, the giant Anatoliy Trubin, and scored one of the most beautiful goals in this edition of the Champions League, the biggest club tournament in the world. During the celebration, he performed his traditional and good-natured dance in front of the corner flag, which earned him a yellow card. French judge François Letexier considered that Vinicius had provoked the opposing fans.
A tense moment ensued between players from both teams. When everyone was preparing to restart the match, Vinicius ran towards the referee accusing Gianluca Prestianni, Benfica’s Argentine striker, of racist insults. Letexier rightly interrupted the game, raising his arms crossed in the shape of an X, a sign of racist protocol. The match was stopped for around ten minutes. Prestianni was not punished because he covered his mouth with his shirt when he addressed Vinicius, preventing the VAR from carrying out any type of lip reading.
Shortly after the game, French striker Kylian Mbappé, the protagonist of the Real Madrid team alongside Vinícius Júnior, gave a harsh interview in Spanish: “Benfica’s number 25, I don’t want to say his name because he doesn’t deserve it, with his shirt in front of his mouth, called (Vinícius Júnior) ‘mono’ (monkey) five times. The players heard it, some from Benfica too.”
“In this type of situation we have to speak clearly”, continued Mbappé. “I have the utmost respect for Benfica, for their coach, who was one of the best in the history of Real Madrid. I have Portuguese friends, I have always been treated well in Portugal, I have the greatest respect for the Benfica fans. But for me, this player doesn’t deserve to play in the Champions League anymore. We have to give the best examples to young people. If we let this type of situation pass, the values of football are useless.”
Like many other players, from Maradona to Neymar, Vinicius has a provocative profile, but he has never lied about cases of racism against him. Mbappé was next to Prestianni when he addressed Vinicius, as was another Real Madrid player, the French-Angolan Eduardo Camavinga — who also gave interviews after the game defending the Brazilian star. For Camavinga, the referee should have declared the end of the game, and not just a stoppage. The match ended with a score of 1-0 for Real Madrid.
“Racists are, above all, cowards. They need to put their shirts over their mouths to show how weak they are,” wrote Vinícius Júnior on his social media. “I don’t like appearing in situations like this, especially after a big win, when the headlines have to be about Real Madrid, but it’s necessary.”
On his social networks, Prestianni denied the racist insult: “I want to clarify that at no time did I direct racist insults at the player Vinícius Júnior, who regrettably misinterpreted what he believed he heard. I was never racist and I regret the threats I received from Real Madrid players.”
UEFA, the governing body of European football, stated, through its spokesperson, that the match reports are being reviewed to determine whether it is appropriate to open an investigation process. Judge Letexier’s summary will be sent to the entity’s Control, Ethics and Discipline Committee. According to UEFA regulations, racist offenses must be punished with at least ten games of suspension. If the case is opened, Prestianni will be heard and will be able to give his version.
Vinicius was not only supported by his clubmates. Thierry Henry, one of the greatest strikers in the history of French football and Arsenal’s greatest idol — and also of New York mayor Zohran Mamdani, a fanatical supporter of the London club — said on a British television sports program: “This guy (Prestianni) has to respond to what Mbappé said. Why did you, Prestianni, cover your mouth? I don’t need to speculate, I believe in Kylian.”
In a statement, the CBF (Brazilian Football Confederation) supported Vinicius. “Racism is a crime. It is unacceptable. It cannot exist in football or anywhere. Vini, you are not alone. Your attitude in activating the protocol is an example of courage and dignity. We are proud of you.”
Benfica, in turn, published a statement saying that it “fully supports and believes in the version presented” by Prestianni, a player who, according to Benfica’s management, has always demonstrated “respect for opponents, institutions and the principles that define the Benfica identity.”
“The club regrets the defamation campaign of which the player has been a victim”, said Benfica.
On its social networks, the Portuguese club had already stated that the Real Madrid players were not close enough to Prestianni to hear what the Argentine said to the Brazilian — the television images show the opposite.
A profile linked to the club also reposted the message in which Prestianni denies the racist offense. In an interview given after the game, Benfica coach José Mourinho said that he had heard a different version of each player and that was why he would remain “balanced” — and then avoided the subject by accusing Vinicius Junior of provoking the Benfica fans in celebrating the goal.
In front of the Estádio da Luz, home of Benfica, there is a statue of the greatest player in the club’s history, striker Eusébio, top scorer in the 1966 World Cup played in England. Born in Mozambique, Eusébio was black and, in interviews, said he had been a victim of racism at different points in his career. Last year, the São Paulo Football Federation launched a new version of the team’s t-shirt, in black, in honor of the star.
“The club clearly and unequivocally reaffirms its historic and uncompromising commitment to defending the values of equality, respect and inclusion, which are in line with the core values of its foundation and which have Eusébio as their greatest symbol”, highlighted Benfica in this Wednesday’s statement.
