Champions League Scandal: "Benfica" — "Real" match interrupted for 10 minutes due to Vinicius' complaint about racist abuse

Tuesday's Champions League play-off match between Madrid's "Real" and Lisbon's "Benfica" (1-0) was suspended for 10 minutes after one of "Real"'s stars, Black Brazilian Vinicius Júnior, complained to the referee about racist abuse from a "Benfica" player, writes the BBC.

The incident occurred at the start of the second half, immediately after Vinicius scored the only goal of the match with a beautiful shot into the top corner.

The match was held at "Benfica"'s stadium. After scoring, Vinicius ran to the corner of the field and, facing the stands, began to celebrate the goal joyfully, swaying his hips in front of the corner flag. Then, surrounded by teammates, he returned to his own half of the field.

Within seconds, Vinicius turned to the referee, Frenchman François Letexier, and stated that "Benfica"'s Argentine winger, 20-year-old Gianluca Prestiani, had insulted him.

Letexier immediately stopped the match in accordance with FIFA's anti-racism protocol. After ten minutes of negotiations between the teams and the referees, play resumed.

Video footage shows Prestiani pulling his jersey collar over his mouth and saying something through it while looking at Vinicius.

That he uttered a specific insult was also stated in a post-match interview by "Real" striker Kylian Mbappé. According to him, Prestiani repeated this insult five times, and both he himself and other players heard it.

“I have great respect for "Benfica" and their coach [José Mourinho], he is one of the best in history […] but, in my opinion, this player no longer deserves to play in the Champions League. A player who plays in Europe's main competition should not be allowed to behave like this,” Mbappé said.

“Let's see what happens next. Let UEFA decide, they always try to do something. Now they have a serious case before them, and I hope they do something,” the Frenchman continued.

Gianluca Prestiani has not yet commented on this incident.

Comments by "Benfica" coach José Mourinho were very unpopular with some football pundits and former and current players. He evasively said that he heard two different versions from the two main participants in the incident, and also reproached Vinicius for celebrating his goal too provocatively.

Mourinho himself was sent off at the end of the match for protesting too vehemently, in the referee's opinion, against the latter's decision not to show Vinicius a second yellow card for a rough foul during "Benfica"'s attack.

“They [Vinicius and Prestiani] told me different versions. But I don't believe either one. I want to be independent,” Mourinho said.

When asked if, in his opinion, Vinicius provoked "Benfica" fans, Mourinho replied: “Yes. I think so.”

“It should have been a crazy moment in the game, a stunning goal. But, unfortunately, it wasn't enough for him to score this wonderful goal. When you score such a goal, you should celebrate respectfully,” Mourinho said. “I told [Vinicius]: when you score such a goal, just celebrate it and go back.”

“When he spoke of racism, I told him that the greatest player in the history of this club [Eusébio] was Black,” Mourinho continued. “Racism is the last thing this club can be accused of.”

“Something is wrong here because it happens in every stadium — wherever Vinicius plays, something constantly happens,” added the Portuguese coach.

Mourinho's remarks were condemned, in particular, by former "Real" and Netherlands national team player Clarence Seedorf, former England national team player Theo Walcott, and current "Real" and England national team player Trent Alexander-Arnold.

“I think he hasn't cooled down from his emotions yet. I think he made a big mistake trying to justify racist abuse,” Seedorf said on Amazon Prime. “He's essentially saying that if Vinicius provokes you, then behaving in a racist way is okay. I believe he is very wrong.”

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