New Video Evidence Surfaces of Racist Abuse in Champions League Match
Disturbing new footage has emerged online, appearing to show Benfica fans making racist monkey gestures towards Real Madrid winger Vinicius Junior during Tuesday's Champions League play-off first leg in Portugal. The incident casts a dark shadow over Real Madrid's 1-0 victory, secured by Vinicius's winning goal in the 50th minute.
Allegations and Denials Surround On-Field Incident
Shortly after scoring, Vinicius approached referee Francois Letexier, claiming that Benfica midfielder Gianluca Prestianni had directed a racist insult at him. Teammate Kylian Mbappe later alleged that Prestianni called Vinicius 'mono,' Spanish for monkey, though the Argentine player has refuted these accusations. Benfica released footage arguing Vinicius was too far from Prestianni to hear any comment clearly.
Benfica manager Jose Mourinho commented post-match, refusing to take sides and citing the club's legendary black striker Eusebio as proof Benfica is not racist. He stated, 'I told [Vinicius], when you score a goal like that you just celebrate and walk back. When he was arguing about racism, I told him the biggest person in the history of this club [Eusebio] was black. This club, the last thing that it is, is racist.'
Social Media Video Sparks Outrage and Calls for Action
Despite Mourinho's assertions, videos shared on social media, including by former Manchester United star Rio Ferdinand, depict two fans in Benfica kits making explicit monkey gestures towards Vinicius. Ferdinand expressed frustration on Instagram, saying, 'How are we still sitting here talking about racism? Football is called the beautiful game, but this type of rubbish sets it back so much, and the authorities have to be stronger on these things.' He emphasized that racist behavior should be punished without justification, regardless of celebrations.
Vinicius Junior's Statement on the Alleged Abuse
Vinicius released a statement addressing the incident, noting, 'Racists are, above all, cowards. They need to put their shirts in their mouths to show how weak they are. But they have the protection of others who, theoretically, have an obligation to punish them. Nothing that happened today is new in my life or in my team’s life.' He also mentioned receiving a yellow card for his goal celebration, which he found confusing, and lamented that the headlines should focus on Real Madrid's win rather than racism.
The incident has ignited debates over racism in football, with calls for UEFA to take decisive action. As investigations continue, the spotlight remains on how authorities will handle such cases to protect players and uphold the sport's integrity.
