Vinícius Jr added: ‘I don’t like being in situations like this, especially after a big win when the news should be about Real Madrid.’
By Kehinde Okeowo
Real Madrid winger Vinícius Júnior has officially reacted to the racial abuse he allegedly faced from Argentine winger Gianluca Prestianni during their UEFA Champions League (UCL) play-off match against Benfica on Tuesday night.
Taking to his Instagram page after the incident, the Brazilian forward said Prestianni’s action shows that he is “weak”.
Real Madrid won the elite European encounter 1-0, thanks to a single goal by Vinícius Jr early in the second half.
After the Brazil international scored the decisive goal, he danced in front of Benfica’s home fans near the corner flag, which incensed José Mourinho’s team.
Referee François Letexier showed a yellow card to Vinícius for his role in provoking the Benfica supporters, while several fans threw objects at the 24-year-old.
The match was delayed for nine minutes as a confrontation broke out between both teams on the pitch. Vinícius later informed officials that Benfica’s winger, Prestianni, had made a comment during the melee.
After a brief discussion with the Madrid player, the referee crossed his arms to form an ‘X’—a gesture used to indicate that a player has reported racist abuse during a UEFA match.
Replays of the incident showed Prestianni lifting his shirt to cover his mouth before appearing to say something to the Brazilian. While the exact words remain unconfirmed, Spanish reports claim Vinícius Jr accused the Argentine player of calling him a “monkey”.
ALSO READ: ’I heard it’ – Mbappe insists Benfica’s Prestianni racially abused Vinicius Jr
Corroborating his teammate’s allegation, Kylian Mbappé—who has previously spoken about suffering racist abuse—recounted what transpired.
The French forward stressed that he was standing nearby and heard the abuse directed at Vinícius Jr.
”Vinícius scored a great goal, he went to dance, the fans whistled him, which can happen,” Mbappé said. “Then there is a moment of tension with the Benfica players, which should not happen, but can happen too; everyone wants to defend their club.”
Mbappé added: “Then the No. 25 of Benfica—I don’t want to say his name, he does not deserve it—began to speak badly, which can happen in football. But then he put his shirt over his face to say that Vinícius is a monkey, five times. I heard it; there are Benfica players who heard it too. From that point, all that you saw happened.”
While addressing the incident on his verified social media handle, Vinícius Jr argued that racist most times are protected by those who ought to punish them.
He wrote: “Racists are, above all, cowards. They need to put their shirts in their mouths to show how weak they are. But they are protected by others who, in theory, are supposed to punish them.
”Nothing that happened today is new in my life or in my team’s life. I got a yellow card for celebrating a goal. I still don’t understand why.
“On the other hand, it was simply a poorly executed plan that achieved nothing. I don’t like being in situations like this, especially after a big win when the news should be about Real Madrid, but it’s something I have to do.”
