Vinicius Júnior has branded racists “cowards” following Real Madrid’s 1-0 victory over Benfica at Estádio da Luz in their Uefa Champions League play-off first leg on Tuesday.
The Brazilian scored a spectacular winning goal early in the first half but his evening was soured when an opposition player allegedly made derogatory remarks regarding his skin colour.
Vini Junior informed the referee that he had been racially abused - video footage suggesting the Argentinian winger Gianluca Prestianni - in the presence of teammates.
Vini Jr had opened the scoring moments earlier with a wonderful bending strike that left Benfica’s Ukrainian stopper Anatoliy Trubin with no chance.
The atmosphere soon turned ugly as, following his light-hearted dancing celebration, for which he was booked, 25-year-old Vini was incensed after passing Prestianni - who covered his mouth with his shirt.
Vini said on Instagram: "Racists are, above all, cowards. They need to put their shirts in their mouths to demonstrate how weak they are.
"But, they have protection from others who, theoretically, have the obligation to punish. Nothing that happened today is new in my life and my family’s.
"I received a yellow card for celebrating a goal. Still not understanding why. On the other side, just a poorly executed protocol that served no purpose.
"I don’t like to appear 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."
While French referee François Letexier did not take any punitive action against any player, he did make the crossed hands gesture to indicate there had been a report of a racist incident.
The symbolic gesture is an aspect of Uefa’s anti-discrimination protocols in which play is halted and prrocedures are implemented to investigate and inform attendees.
Stadium announcements were made to that effect and all present were informed that any acts of discrimination may lead to the game being suspended or abandoned.
Prestianni - who was not named by Vini but was visibly incensed when the Brazilian began to make his concerns known - subsequently denied any racist abuse.
He said: "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."
The game was halted for ten minutes before eventually being resumed with Real leading 1-0, though emotions continued to run high on both sides.
Vinicius was struck by an object thrown from the crowd in first-half injury time, while Benfica boss Jose Mourinho was shown two yellow cards in the 85th minute for remonstrating with officials.
It is not the first time Vini Jr has been the subject of racist abuse in Spain and overseas - four men were arrested for hanging an effigy of the anti-racism campaigner from a bridge in 2023.
Three men were also arrested in Valencia the same year after alleged discriminatory abuse was directed towards the Real player during a game.
Mourinho will be missing from the dugout for the second leg at his former home stadium, the Bernabéu, as his side look unlikely to overturn a deficit in an away cauldron.
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