Racism Allegations in Football: A Response from Vinicius Junior and Kylian Mbappe

omidbasir- Vinicius Junior took to Instagram to express his sentiments, stating that “racists are cowards,” after a match on Tuesday. His Real Madrid teammate, Kylian Mbappe, has urged for a ban on Benfica’s Prestianni from the Champions League. Mbappe claims he heard the Benfica player utter racial slurs, specifically calling Vinicius a monkey five times during the game, which concluded in a 1-0 victory for Real Madrid.

In response to the allegations, Prestianni denied any wrongdoing, asserting on social media, “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 have never been racist towards anyone, and I regret the threats I received from Real Madrid players.”

Former Arsenal and Barcelona striker Thierry Henry expressed skepticism regarding Prestianni’s claims, sharing his own experiences with racism on the pitch during a segment on CBS Sports. “I can relate to what Vinicius is going through. This has happened to me so many times on the pitch, and after games, I often felt isolated, as it was my word against his,” Henry stated.

Henry emphasized the suspicious nature of Prestianni’s actions, noting, “He was very courageous by putting his shirt over his mouth to ensure we couldn’t see what he said, which raises questions. Vinicius’s reaction suggests something inappropriate occurred. We still do not know what was said; Vinicius can share his perspective, but I doubt Prestianni will be forthcoming about his words.”

Reflecting on the absurdity of the situation, Henry questioned why Vinicius was warned against celebrating, stating, “We are in 2026, and instead of discussing his brilliant goal, we are addressing the referee’s advice against inciting the crowd. Vinicius should not be a victim in such scenarios. I understand his frustration.”

Henry recounted instances where he too faced racism, stating, “He tried to walk out one time, and he attempted to retaliate because he had reached his limit. When he approached the referee, I could relate to his plight, as I was also told there was nothing that could be done in my situations.”

Urging Prestianni to own up to his actions, Henry remarked, “Let’s see how genuine Prestianni is. He must have said something; otherwise, why would he deny it to Mbappe? What was the purpose of covering his mouth? Was he hiding something?”

Henry also voiced his dismay over the persistent presence of racism in football, stating, “People fought hard long before my time for us to perform and entertain. To still confront such issues in 2026 is disheartening. I can relate not only through my skin color but also through my personal experiences. It’s exhausting.”

In light of the allegations, UEFA has announced the appointment of an Ethics and Disciplinary Inspector to investigate the incident during the UEFA Champions League 2025/2026 Knockout Play-off between Benfica and Real Madrid on February 17, 2026. Further updates on this matter will be forthcoming.

Real Madrid is set to face Benfica in the second leg of the knockout stage play-off at Santiago Bernabeu on Wednesday, February 25.