Real Madrid send ‘all available’ Vinicius evidence to UEFA in racism row | Football News
Real Madrid Reports Alleged Racial Abuse During Champions League Match
Real Madrid’s Brazilian forward Vinicius Jr. has alleged that he was subjected to racial abuse by Benfica player Gianluca Prestianni during a Champions League match.
In a statement, Real Madrid announced it has provided UEFA, the governing body of European football, with “all available evidence” related to the incident that occurred during their 1-0 victory over Benfica. The club emphasized its commitment to collaborating with UEFA’s investigation into the matter, though it did not disclose the specifics of the evidence submitted.
UEFA has appointed a special investigator to examine the events of the match held on Tuesday in Lisbon. Vinicius Jr. accused Prestianni of calling him “monkey” after he scored the crucial goal. This incident reportedly followed Vinicius’s celebration near the Benfica corner flag, which drew criticism from several opposing players, including Prestianni.
Prestianni, who allegedly covered his mouth with his shirt while speaking to Vinicius, has denied the accusations. He described himself as a victim of what he termed a “defamation campaign,” and Benfica expressed its full support, stating that it believes Prestianni’s account of the events.
The Brazilian forward, who has faced a series of racial insults throughout his career in Spain, received widespread backing from the global football community following the incident. In its statement, Real Madrid acknowledged the “unanimous support, backing, and affection” for Vinicius Jr. and reaffirmed its commitment to combating racism, violence, and hate in sports and society.
FIFA President Gianni Infantino expressed his shock and sadness regarding the alleged incident, commending the match officials for implementing the anti-racism protocol, which temporarily halted play for nearly ten minutes at the Estádio da Luz.
As the investigation continues, both clubs and UEFA aim to address the broader issues of racism in football.
