Controversy Erupts Following Vinicius Jr.’s Goal Amid Alleged Racism in Lisbon

omidbasir- An eventful match in Lisbon featured Brazilian international Vinicius Jr. opening the scoring in spectacular style early in the second half. After striking the ball into the top corner of the net, Vinicius celebrated by the corner flag, much to the displeasure of the home supporters.

Upon returning to the halfway line, he faced 20-year-old Argentine player Prestianni, who appeared to mutter something while covering his mouth with his shirt. This prompted Vinicius to approach match referee Francois Letexier, leading to an interruption in the game as UEFA guidelines were followed regarding the alleged racist comments. The match did not resume for an additional ten minutes.

During the stoppage, commentator Mark Clattenburg made a controversial remark about Vinicius, stating, “Yes, he scored a wonderful goal but he should have just returned over to the other side of the pitch to continue the game. Vinicius Jr. has not helped himself; he’s made this situation very, very difficult.”

Clattenburg’s comments stirred significant criticism on social media. Troy Townsend, a representative from the anti-discrimination charity Kick It Out, voiced his disapproval on X, stating, “He should never be involved in commentary again.”

In an interview with Telegraph Sport, Townsend expressed concern about Clattenburg’s influence, saying, “His insinuation that Vini Jr. has given the referee a problem is nothing short of outlandish and part of the victim-blaming culture that often surfaces, particularly against Vini Jr. His employers should inform him of the potential dangers of his comments.”

Clattenburg later acknowledged his error and issued an apology on social media, stating, “Nothing justifies racism in sport or in life. I got it wrong; I’m sorry. It was live TV, and my response was clumsy and inappropriate. I appreciate my colleagues who handled the situation with dignity.”

In a post-match statement, Vinicius remarked, “Racists are, above all, cowards. They need to cover their mouths to display their weakness. Yet they find protection from those who should be punishing them. Nothing that occurred today is new in my life or my team’s life. I received a yellow card for celebrating a goal, which I still don’t understand. This was merely a poorly executed protocol that served no purpose. I dislike being in these situations, especially after a significant victory when the focus should be on Real Madrid. But it is necessary to address these issues.”

Prestianni has denied the allegations of racial abuse, asserting that Vinicius “misunderstood what he thought he heard.” His manager at Benfica, former Real Madrid coach Jose Mourinho, has also faced criticism for defending his player’s actions.

In response to the incident, UEFA has initiated an investigation, while the Portuguese government, through the Authority for the Prevention and Fight against Violence in Sport (APCVD), is also examining the matter. Any potential sanctions will be disclosed once these processes conclude.