Controversy Surrounds Real Madrid’s Victory Over Benfica

omidbasir- Real Madrid’s narrow 1-0 victory over Benfica in the Champions League has unfortunately been overshadowed by serious allegations of racism. Vinicius Jr accused Benfica’s Gianluca Prestianni of racial slurs during the match and subsequently labeled him a “coward” in a statement following the game. Kylian Mbappe, a teammate of Vinicius, has claimed to have overheard Prestianni referring to Vinicius as a “monkey” on multiple occasions, urging for a ban on Prestianni from the Champions League. In response, Prestianni has firmly denied these accusations, asserting that he did not direct any racist comments towards the Brazilian forward.

The situation has further escalated with the emergence of videos showing Benfica fans engaging in racist gestures towards Vinicius, putting the club’s supporters under scrutiny.

In a related context, Benfica’s coach, Jose Mourinho, had previously defended his club against racism allegations, questioning Vinicius’s celebration after scoring the decisive goal. He remarked to reporters, “It should have been a euphoric moment celebrating an incredible goal. However, it seems that scoring such a remarkable goal wasn’t enough for him to celebrate respectfully.”

Mourinho continued, stating, “Regarding the exchange of words between Prestianni and Vinicius, I prefer to remain neutral. I witnessed two entirely different accounts and have chosen not to comment further. I advised Vinicius that upon scoring a goal of that caliber, he should celebrate and return to play. When the issue of racism arose, I reminded him that the greatest figure in the history of this club, Eusebio, was black. This club is anything but racist. If Vinicius harbored any doubts, he should reconsider. I have heard conflicting accounts from both parties, but I choose not to take sides.”

Thierry Henry, the former Barcelona and Arsenal star, has called for Prestianni to clarify his statements to Vinicius. In remarks on CBS Sports, he said, “Let’s see how honorable Prestianni is. He must clarify what he said, as you cannot brush off such serious accusations. His actions suggest there may be something he wishes to hide, given that he covered his mouth when speaking.”

Henry reflected on his own experiences of racism in football, emphasizing the isolation such incidents can create. He implored that in 2026, discussions should center around remarkable plays rather than instances of racism, lamenting how events unfolded after an otherwise brilliant goal.

A UEFA investigation into the incidents during the match at Estadio da Luz is anticipated once the relevant match reports have been reviewed. This controversy sets the stage for the second leg of the Champions League knockout stage tie next week at Santiago Bernabeu, where Real Madrid will carry a 1-0 advantage. Notably, Benfica’s Mourinho will be absent from the touchline as he was sent off in the closing moments of the first leg for dissent.