Support from football stars for Vini Jr after racist episode in the victory over Benfica

Striker Vinicius Junior received immediate support from teammates and renowned former athletes after accusing Argentine Gianluca Prestianni of racist insults during the match between Benfica and Real Madrid. The game took place at Estádio of Luz, at Lisboa, and ended with a 1-0 victory for Real Madrid in the playoffs of Liga of The Brazilian opened the scoring with a great goal and, during the celebration, the conflict broke out on the pitch.

Mbappé, who works alongside Vini Jr in Real Madrid, confirmed having heard the repeated insults. Ele detailed the moment in post-game statements and reinforced that the episode was unacceptable on the field. The referee activated the anti-racism protocol and the match stopped for around ten minutes.

Thierry Henry, former world champion French striker, expressed solidarity on an international program. Ele reported similar episodes experienced in her career and highlighted the feeling of isolation that the victim faces in these situations.

Mbappé confirms the offenses and reinforces support for his teammate

Kylian Mbappé directly defended Vinicius Junior after the end of the match. The Frenchman stated that Prestianni called the Brazilian a “monkey” five times while covering his face with his shirt. Ele said that other Benfica players also heard the offensive words.

Mbappé posted a message on social media encouraging Vini Jr to continue celebrating. The text reinforced that no one can dictate the attacker’s behavior on the field. The French star also declared that the focus of criticism should only be on the accused player and not on the club or country.

Thierry Henry shares personal experiences

Former striker Thierry Henry participated in the CBS program Golazo Sports and spoke openly about the case. Ele compared the episode suffered by Vini Jr with situations he faced throughout his professional career. The Frenchman recalled that the victim often feels alone because her word goes against the aggressor’s.

Henry reinforced that racists act in a cowardly manner on and off the pitch. Ele expressed full support for the Brazilian and hoped that football would move forward in combating this type of behavior. The comment gained international repercussion among sports fans and professionals.

See this photo on Instagram

A post shared by Vinicius Jr. ⚡️🇧🇷 (@vinijr)

Other players and former athletes express solidarity

Micah Richards, former full-back of Manchester City, classified the act as cowardice and lamented the helpless situation experienced by The Englishman reported that he has already suffered racial abuse off the field and understands the Brazilian’s pain. Rio Ferdinand, legend of Manchester United, asked football authorities to be firmer in their punishments.

Felipe Melo, Brazilian midfielder, used direct expression to condemn racism and express support for his compatriot. Luisão, Brazilian idol of Benfica, expressed shame over the episode and criticized the Portuguese club’s initial stance. Clarence Seedorf, a former Dutch player, has also publicly positioned himself alongside Vini Jr in recent statements.

Confederação Brasileira of Futebol released an official statement repudiating racism and reinforced that Vini Jr is not alone in the fight against discrimination. Vários European clubs shared the case on social media with messages of support for the Real Madrid striker.

Details of the game and the moment of the goal

Real Madrid beat Benfica 1-0 in the first game of the Liga Campeões playoffs. Vinicius Junior scored the goal in the 50th minute of the second half with a shot placed in the corner. The local fans reacted with intense booing during the Brazilian’s celebration.

Referee François Letexier stopped the match immediately after Vini Jr reported it. UEFA’s anti-racism protocol was activated and the players gathered in the center of the pitch. The interruption lasted around ten minutes before the game resumed without further incident.

Vini Jr received a yellow card for celebrating by dancing in front of the opposing fans. The goal was widely praised by the international press for its technical quality. The result left Real Madrid with an advantage for the second leg scheduled for February 25th.

Prestianni, 20 years old and former Vélez Sarsfield, played as a starter for Benfica as a winger. Ele denied any offense and stated that Vini Jr misinterpreted the words exchanged. The Portuguese club released an official statement of full support for its player.

Reactions of Prestianni and Benfica

Gianluca Prestianni spoke out on social media and denied having made any racist comments. The Argentine said he regrets the threats received after the accusation and reinforced that the dialogue on the pitch was misinterpreted. Ele asked that the focus return to football.

Benfica issued an official statement supporting Prestianni’s version and stated that it does not tolerate racism within the club. The note generated a strong negative reaction on social media with criticism of the institutional stance. The club also released images to try to show the distance between the players at the time of the argument.

The anti-racism protocol activated by UEFA

The referee activated UEFA’s anti-racism protocol shortly after Vinicius Junior’s complaint. The regulations provide for immediate interruption of the game when there is a report of a discriminatory insult. The European entity has opened a formal investigation into the case and can apply punishments ranging from fines to suspension of players or even stadiums.

The protocol was created to combat racism in European football and has already been used in other Liga Campeões matches. UEFA tolerates zero discrimination and encourages victims to report it immediately. The case of Vini Jr gained special attention because it involves one of the world’s main players.

The investigation is still ongoing and must consider statements from Mbappé, other athletes present and images from the broadcast. The regulations provide for a minimum suspension of ten games in proven cases of racism. Real Madrid and the Brazilian team are closely following the development of the process.

Vini Jr speaks out on social media

Vinicius Junior published a short message on social media shortly after the game. Ele wrote that racists are, above all, cowards. The post received thousands of likes and supportive comments from fans and sports figures.

The Brazilian avoided giving further details about the episode and preferred to focus on the team’s victory. Ele thanked the messages of solidarity received in the last few hours. The CBF reinforced its institutional support for the player in an official statement released on Wednesday.