Tensions Rise in Madrid’s Victory Over Benfica Amid Controversial Incident

omidbasir- Real Madrid’s 1-0 triumph over Benfica was interrupted for ten minutes in the second half after Vinicius Junior opened the scoring. The 25-year-old executed a stunning shot that curled into the top corner and celebrated in front of home fans, drawing jeers from the stands. Before the game could resume, Eagles midfielder Gianluca Prestianni approached Vinicius at the halfway line, lifted his shirt over his mouth, and reportedly made a comment, which provoked a furious response from both Vinicius and Kylian Mbappe.

Following protests to the referee, FIFA’s racism protocol was activated, leading to a temporary halt in play. Vinicius exited the pitch, conversing with both head coach Alvaro Arbeloa and José Mourinho on his way to the dugout. Ultimately, the match continued, and Madrid secured the victory, carrying their advantage into the second leg.

Mourinho was sent off in the later stages of the match for dissent, yet he did not hold back in criticizing Vinicius during post-match interviews. The Portuguese manager defended his club, asserting that they are not racist, while acknowledging that such issues seem to arise in every stadium where Vinicius plays.

In an interview with Amazon Prime, Mourinho stated, “There is something wrong because it happens in every stadium. A stadium where Vinicius plays, something happens, always. It was a good 50 minutes of football. Millions are watching, a fantastic goal, and then game over.”

He continued, “I saw two completely different things. I want to remain independent and not comment on this. I advised him [Vinicius] that when you score a goal like that, you should celebrate and walk back. When he raised concerns about racism, I reminded him that the greatest figure in this club’s history, Eusebio, was black. This club is the last place to be labeled as racist. Vinicius and Prestianni shared different perspectives with me, but I choose to remain neutral.”

Mourinho emphasized that while such talent creates beautiful moments on the pitch, Vinicius should have been content with his spectacular goal without letting controversy overshadow his celebration.

Despite Mourinho’s lack of empathy for his former club or the player, many rallied around Vinicius. Trent Alexander-Arnold commended the forward’s mental strength, stating, “I don’t know if he needed persuading to return to the pitch; I believe he wanted to continue. He has a strong mentality and has faced such hostility before. It’s a passionate environment, and I’m unsure what instigated such reactions. We are accustomed to hostile settings as a team. I hope justice prevails in this situation.”

Head coach Arbeloa remarked, “You need to ask Benfica’s players; I cannot answer that. Everyone witnessed the incident. Vini’s comments are less important than the need to combat such negative attitudes. If we cannot respect one another, that is a significant issue.”

As an investigation is currently underway, Alexander-Arnold acknowledged he could not comment further. Vinicius Junior has yet to issue a statement, but the events have overshadowed an otherwise strong performance by Madrid as they aim to secure their place in the Champions League’s last 16.