Vinícius Accusation Halts Benfica Match
Vinícius Júnior scored a sublime winner but accused Benfica's Gianluca Prestianni of a racial slur, prompting a roughly 10–11 minute stoppage under FIFA's anti-racism protocol in the Champions League playoff first leg.
Overview
Real Madrid's Vinícius Júnior accused Benfica winger Gianluca Prestianni of a racial slur, prompting referee François Letexier to halt the Champions League playoff first leg at the Estádio da Luz on Tuesday.
Vinícius had just curled a shot into the top corner and celebrated by dancing at the corner flag before the confrontation that triggered the stoppage.
Kylian Mbappé and Aurélien Tchouaméni said the team considered leaving the pitch in protest before deciding to continue.
The match was stopped for roughly 10 to 11 minutes as Letexier crossed his arms to activate FIFA's anti-racism protocol.
Real secured a 1-0 first-leg win to take back to Madrid for the return tie.
Analysis
Analysis unavailable for this viewpoint.
Sources (3)
FAQ
FIFA's anti-racism protocol is a procedure activated when a referee suspects racial abuse has occurred during a match. When invoked, the referee crosses their arms in front of their face as a signal, which halts the match and typically involves the player who experienced abuse temporarily withdrawing to the sidelines[1]. The protocol aims to address racist incidents in real-time and send a clear message against discrimination in football, though its effectiveness in preventing future incidents remains questioned[1].
The stoppage occurred five minutes into the second half after Vinícius Junior scored to give Real Madrid a 1-0 lead[1]. Following his goal celebration, in which he danced in front of the corner flag, a dispute arose with Benfica player Gianluca Prestianni[2]. Vinícius then reported to French referee François Letexier that he had heard a racial slur, which prompted the referee to activate FIFA's anti-racism protocol and halt the match for approximately 10-11 minutes[1].
Benfica coach José Mourinho denied that racial slurs were directed at Vinícius and instead claimed that the Brazilian player provoked the collision during the goal celebration[2]. Mourinho emphasized that Benfica's history includes notable Black players like Eusébio and stated the club is "far from racism," while suggesting that "problems arise in every stadium where Vinícius plays"[2]. His remarks drew immediate criticism from former Real Madrid player Clarence Seedorf, who stated that justifying racial discrimination is a grave mistake[2].
If found guilty of the racial abuse, the player involved could face a ban according to UEFA procedures[1]. Sky News' sports correspondent noted that sanctions are possible as part of football's efforts to stamp out racism[1]. Additionally, a UEFA investigation is anticipated to determine what occurred during the match[2]. The incident has broader implications, resurfacing racial discrimination issues across European football[2].
Yes, Vinícius has repeatedly suffered racism in Spain during games[1]. He has previously warned about facing such abuse and stated he would be prepared to walk off the pitch if targeted[1]. His post-match statement on social media further emphasized the ongoing nature of this problem, as he called out the racism he experienced and questioned why he received a yellow card for his goal celebration[2].
History
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