UCL: Vinicius alleges racial slur Benfica’s Prestianni

Vinicius Junior Faces Racist Remark During Champions League Match

LISBON, Portugal — Real Madrid forward Vinicius Junior was reportedly the target of a racist remark by Benfica’s Argentine player, Gianluca Prestianni, during a UEFA Champions League playoff match on Tuesday, as reported by the Spanish newspaper AS.

The match, which ended in a 1-0 victory for Real Madrid, experienced a nine-minute delay at the start of the second half. This stoppage followed an incident in which Vinicius approached referee Francois Letexier to address the alleged racist comment made by Prestianni amid a confrontation.

Vinicius had previously added excitement to the match by scoring just five minutes into the second half at Lisbon’s Estadio da Luz, celebrating his goal with a dance near the corner flag, which drew the ire of Benfica supporters. As a result, the referee issued a yellow card to Vinicius for inciting the crowd.

In response to his celebration, some fans directed projectiles toward the Brazilian forward. The situation escalated into a confrontation on the field, and Vinicius expressed to officials that he had been subjected to a derogatory remark from Prestianni. Referee Letexier then made a gesture indicating that the player had experienced racist abuse, a signal recognized in UEFA matches.

Video replays showed Prestianni appearing to cover his mouth while speaking to Vinicius, though the specific language used remains unclear. According to AS, Vinicius accused Prestianni of calling him a “monkey.”

As Vinicius left the field to sit on the Madrid bench, he received cheers from some fans, despite the tension. He re-entered the match shortly thereafter.

The incident was compounded by the expulsion of a member of Benfica’s coaching staff and the sending off of manager José Mourinho towards the end of the match. Mourinho’s dismissal will result in his absence for the second leg at the Santiago Bernabéu Stadium due to suspension.

Read Full Article