The UEFA Champions League match between Real Madrid and Benfica was stopped for 10 minutes after Vinicius Jr said he heard a racist comment from Gianluca Prestianni and refused to continue playing.
Vinicius had just scored to put Real Madrid ahead. He was given a yellow card for celebrating in front of the Benfica fans. Soon after, Prestianni came up to him, pulled his shirt over his mouth, and said something.
Vinicius then spoke to referee Francois Letexier, who quickly stopped the game. After listening, the referee crossed his arms in front of his face to start FIFA’s anti-racism rules, and the match was paused for a short time.
Real Madrid went on to win the game 2–0, beating Benfica by two goals. After the match, the 25-year-old posted on Instagram, he wrote: “Racists are, above all, cowards”.
“They need to put their shirts over their mouths to demonstrate how weak they are.
“But they have, on their side, the protection of others who, theoretically, have the obligation to punish. Nothing that happened here today was new in my life and my family’s.
“I received a yellow card for celebrating a goal. I still don’t understand why. On the other hand, just a poorly executed protocol that served no purpose.
“I don’t like appearing in situations like this, even more so after a great victory and when the headlines have to be about Real Madrid, but it’s necessary.”
According to Sky Sports News, UEFA is currently reviewing the incident and no further information to provide you or any further comment to make on this matter.”
Prestianni has also come out to deny the comment and Benfica shared a statement on social media in Portuguese and it says, “I want to clarify that at no time did I direct racist insults to Vini Jr, who regrettably misunderstood what he thought he heard.
“I was never racist with anyone and I regret the threats I received from Real Madrid players.”
