The UEFA Champions League match between Benfica and Real Madrid was interrupted last night after Vinicius Junior reported an alleged racial incident. The Brazilian forward had just netted a brilliant goal in the 50th minute at Lisboa’s Estadio da Luz, sparking outrage among home fans, resulting in objects being thrown onto the pitch as he celebrated by the corner.
Vinicius received a yellow card from referee Francois Letexier during this tense moment. Following the incident, Vinicius was seen communicating with Letexier, pointing out Gianluca Prestianni, a player from Benfica. The referee invoked an anti-racism protocol, gesturing with crossed arms above his head, a signal adopted by FIFA in 2024 to address abusive behavior. Television footage captured Prestianni conversing with Vinicius covertly, covering his mouth with his jersey, as Vinicius seemed to mention this to the referee.
After the game, Vinicius took to Instagram to voice his feelings:
“Racists are, above all, cowards. They need to put their shirts over their mouths to demonstrate how weak they are. On the other hand, just a poorly executed protocol that served no purpose. I still don’t understand why I received a yellow card for celebrating a goal.”
FIFA President Gianna Infantino expressed his dismay:
“I was shocked and saddened to see the incident of alleged racism towards Vinícius Júnior in the UEFA Champions League. There is absolutely no room for racism in our sport.”
Other players, including Aurelien Tchouameni and Federico Valverde, corroborated that Prestianni had racially insulted Vinicius, indicating a pressing need to combat such intolerable behavior.
The Brazilian Football Confederation issued a supportive statement to Vinicius, reaffirming that racism is a crime that must be eradicated from football and society. The incident not only illuminates the issues surrounding racism in sports but also highlights Vinicius’s brave stance against it.
The match proceeded after a ten-minute delay. Despite the hostile atmosphere, Real Madrid maintained their lead, concluding the match efficiently.
