Benfica released a video and a statement, asserting that Real Madrid's accusations lacked basis. "As the images show, at such a distance, Real players could not have heard what they claimed," the club stated.
The video shows Vinicius reporting to the referee immediately after a Benfica player covered his mouth and spoke. Real players were not close enough to clearly hear what was said.
Benfica releases video in response to racism allegations involving Vinicius.
The incident unfolded in the 50th minute of the Champions League play-off first leg at the Estadio da Luz. Vinicius scored a superb curling goal into the top corner, then celebrated by dancing at the corner flag.
The Brazilian forward returned to midfield, then engaged in a dispute with Gianluca Prestianni. After hearing something from the Benfica player, Vinicius immediately pointed at his opponent and reported the incident to referee Francois Letexier. The French referee then made a crossed-arms gesture, signaling the activation of the anti-racism protocol, which halted the match for about 10 minutes.
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Vinicius celebrates and receives a yellow card during Real's 1-0 victory over Benfica in the Champions League play-off first leg at the Estadio da Luz, Lisbon, Portugal on 17/2. *Photo: Marca*
Following the match, Vinicius posted on Instagram: "Racists are cowards. They have to cover their mouths to show their weakness."
The 25-year-old forward also stated his confusion regarding the yellow card he received for his celebration. He expressed, "There is a protocol, but it is poorly applied and solves nothing."
Meanwhile, coach Alvaro Arbeloa affirmed that Real was prepared to leave the field if Vinicius chose not to continue playing. The Spanish coach stated, "There is no tolerance for racism. I asked Vini if he wanted to continue playing and told him the whole team was with him."
Forward Kylian Mbappe claimed Prestianni had repeatedly insulted his teammate. Defender Trent Alexander-Arnold labeled the incident "a disgrace to football," and Aurelien Tchouameni disclosed that Vinicius accused his opponent of calling him "a monkey." Midfielder Federico Valverde mentioned that some players standing nearby heard offensive words, but these were not clearly recorded.
The Brazilian Football Confederation also released a statement supporting Vinicius, stressing that "racism is a crime and cannot exist in football or anywhere else."
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Gianluca Prestianni (in red) covers his mouth while speaking with Vinicius. *Photo: Marca*
From Benfica's perspective, Prestianni denied the accusation, asserting that no racist remarks were made and that Vinicius misunderstood. Leandro Barreiro also defended his teammate, suggesting the interaction was merely typical in-game provocation, devoid of any racist elements.
Coach Jose Mourinho stated he could not confirm who was correct in the incident. He remarked, "Vinicius says one thing, Prestianni says another. I cannot say that I support Prestianni 100%, but I also cannot confirm that what Vinicius told me is true. I cannot, because I do not know."
The Portuguese coach also suggested that Vinicius should have celebrated his goal differently, rather than "provoking 60,000 spectators in the stadium." He further noted that Vinicius has frequently been a target of racist acts in recent years. Mourinho questioned, "Something is wrong. Vinicius scored a great goal. Why didn't he celebrate like Eusebio, Pele, or Di Stefano?"
The second leg between Real and Benfica is scheduled for the evening of 25/2 at the Bernabeu stadium.
By Hong Duy (via ESPN)
