Controversial Match Marred by Racism and Violence

omidbasir- After executing a brilliant finish past the goalkeeper, Vinicius of Real Madrid ignited controversy with his prolonged celebrations by the corner flag, angering players and fans of Benfica. Nicolas Otamendi confronted him amidst chaotic scenes as teammates intervened in skirmishes to protect him. Vinicius ultimately received a yellow card for ‘excessive celebration.’

As the intensity began to subside and both teams prepared to resume play, Vinicius approached the referee to report remarks made by Prestianni during their altercation, prompting the referee to halt the match in accordance with the racism protocol. While this unfolded, Vinicius opted to sit on the Real Madrid bench, refusing to continue playing.

Kylian Mbappe also expressed his outrage regarding the comments made. The referee signaled the initiation of FIFA’s three-step racism protocol, which commenced with stopping the game. After a 10-minute delay, the match resumed, although it was marred by additional tensions, including a red card issued to a member of Benfica’s backroom staff. Head coach Jose Mourinho was also involved, attempting to communicate with Vinicius during the turmoil.

Television replays indicated that Vinicius reacted to comments made by Prestianni, reporting the incident to the referee, which resulted in the game being paused. Throughout the disruption, Vinicius remained in the dugout while head coach Alvaro Arbeloa engaged him in a serious conversation. Later in the match, Vinicius was struck on the arm by an object thrown from the stands, a troubling reminder of his past encounters with crowd violence and racism in Spain.

In response to the incident, Madrid defender Trent Alexander-Arnold expressed his disgust, stating, “What happened tonight is a disgrace for football and has ruined the night for the team.” Arbeloa echoed these sentiments, emphasizing the need to combat such attitudes and maintain mutual respect in the sport.

Mourinho, after accumulating two yellow cards for dissent, was also sent off, adding to the chaos. The match was frequently interrupted due to Real Madrid players being targeted by projectiles from the home crowd. Despite earlier attempts to communicate with Vinicius, Mourinho’s frustrations boiled over, and he will now be absent for the return leg in Madrid as his team seeks to overcome the one-goal deficit without him.