Vinícius Jr. blasts 'cowardly' racists after alleged abuse

Vinícius Júnior has publicly denounced racist individuals as "cowards" following an alleged racial slur directed at him by Benfica player Gianluca Prestianni during Real Madrid's recent 1-0 win. The incident led to a 10-minute stoppage as Vinícius Jr. approached the referee, François Letexier, visibly distressed. Coach Álvaro Arbeloa indicated that Real Madrid would have abandoned the match had Vinícius Jr. decided to do so, underscoring the team's solidarity.

Prestianni reportedly used the word "mono," meaning monkey, which was corroborated by Kylian Mbappé, who demanded Prestianni be banned from the Champions League. Vinícius Júnior expressed frustration with the anti-racism protocol, describing it as poorly executed and ineffective, lamenting that the focus was diverted from Real Madrid's victory. Arbeloa reinforced that the team's stance on racism is absolute, stating they would always support Vinícius Jr. in such situations, irrespective of the referee's inability to act without direct hearing.

Benfica's coach, José Mourinho, urged a balanced perspective, acknowledging both the player's celebrated goal and the controversy. He stated he did not wish to label either player a liar but preferred not to delve into the specifics of the exchange, instead commenting on Vinícius Jr.'s goal celebration style.