Vinicius Junior Addresses Racist Abuse During Champions League Match

omidbasir- In the Champions League knockout phase play-off at Estadio da Luz, Vinicius Junior opened the scoring for Real Madrid in the 50th minute. However, the match was briefly halted for 10 minutes after Vinicius reported incidents of alleged racist abuse, prompting him and his teammates to leave the field.

Referee Francois Letexier signaled the occurrence of racist abuse with a crossed arms gesture after conferring with Vinicius. The Brazilian forward had celebrated his goal passionately, which resulted in a booking for excessive celebration.

Following an exchange with Gianluca Prestianni of Benfica, Vinicius approached referee Letexier, gesturing towards the opposing player. He subsequently led his Real Madrid teammates off the pitch, while the match was paused. The game resumed 10 minutes later.

Prior to the incident, objects were reportedly thrown from the stands as Vinicius celebrated his remarkable goal by the corner flag. This act sparked a confrontation among the players on the field, leading to the ensuing interaction between Vinicius and Prestianni at the halfway line.

Vinicius’s decision to exit the pitch was taken seriously, prompting discussions with Benfica manager Jose Mourinho, as staff members from both teams became involved in addressing the situation.

Further updates are expected to follow.