Real Madrid winger Vinicius Jr has declared that “racists are, above all, cowards” after alleging he was racially abused during Tuesday’s Champions League clash against Benfica.
The group-stage encounter in the UEFA Champions League was suspended for about 10 minutes after Vinicius reported the incident to referee Francois Letexier, prompting players to briefly leave the pitch. European football’s governing body, UEFA, has since launched an investigation.
The alleged offender, Benfica midfielder Gianluca Prestianni, denies any wrongdoing. Benfica have thrown their support behind the 20-year-old, describing the claims as a “defamation campaign” and insisting the club’s values are rooted in equality and respect.
The controversy deepened after comments from manager Jose Mourinho, who said he received differing accounts from both players and defended Benfica’s anti-racism credentials, citing club legend Eusebio.
The reaction drew criticism from anti-discrimination body Kick It Out, whose chair Sanjay Bhandari accused the club and manager of failing to prioritise cooperation with the investigation.
Meanwhile, FIFA president Gianni Infantino said he was “shocked and saddened” by the allegations, reiterating that racism has no place in football.
The investigation remains ongoing.
