When Vinicius Junior appeared on the lawn of the Santiago Bernabéu stadium to line up alongside his teammates this Wednesday (25), the scene already said as much as the game that was about to start. In the stands, a banner raised by Real Madrid fans called for an end to racism.
The scene was another chapter in the public demonstrations of support for the Brazilian, intensified since last week, when the number 7 accused Argentine Gianluca Prestianni of having uttered racist insults in the first clash between the Spanish team and Benfica, in the knockout stage of the Champions League.
After winning the first leg 1-0, with a goal from number 7, Real once again beat their rival, this time 2-1, in a comeback. Rafa Silva opened the scoring, and Tchouaméni equalized in the first half. After the break, Vinicius Junior turned to the Spanish team and, just like in the first match, danced in front of the fans.
This time, at home, the fans cheered for the Brazilian, who did not meet Prestianni.
UEFA (Union of European Football Associations) decided to preventively suspend the Argentine for “prima facie violation”. The legal term indicates that, at first glance, the entity understands that there are signs of racism, although there is still no definitive decision. Once the investigations are complete, the punishment — for now limited to one game — can be extended to at least ten suspension games.
The Argentine denies having committed any offense, a version supported by Benfica, which decided to take him to Madrid as a public gesture of support. On the eve of the reunion between the teams (25), the player normally participated in the pitch recognition training alongside his teammates. This Wednesday, however, he remained at the hotel where the Portuguese delegation is staying.
The team’s coach, José Mourinho —who previously led Real Madrid—, was also not on the sidelines of the field. He was suspended after being sent off in the first game, in an episode unrelated to the accusation of racism.
Mourinho, however, became the target of criticism in different European countries after stating, in an interview given after the match in Lisbon, that Vinicius Junior should not have celebrated Real Madrid’s winning goal with a dance in front of the corner flag. The statement was interpreted by the press and fans as an attempt to relativize the alleged racist episode involving Prestianni.
The situation in which Vinicius claims to have been insulted by Prestianni occurred after the goal that defined Real Madrid’s triumph. The Brazilian celebrated his great shot by dancing with his face close to the Benfica flag planted in the corner.
Vinicius’ teammate, striker Kylian Mbappé corroborated his version. “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 [Vinicius] of ‘mono’ five times. The players listened; some from Benfica, too. In this type of situation, we have to speak clearly”, said the Frenchman.
Racist insults against Vinicius Junior became recurrent on European football pitches. The Brazilian striker has already opened more than two dozen cases in the Spanish courts, and two of them have resulted in convictions. In the sporting sphere, UEFA regulations provide for a suspension of at least ten games for cases of racial insult.
