		<div class="wpcnt">
			<div class="wpa">
				<span class="wpa-about">Advertisements</span>
				<div class="u top_amp">
							<amp-ad width="300" height="265"
		 type="pubmine"
		 data-siteid="111265417"
		 data-section="2">
		</amp-ad>
				</div>
			</div>
		</div><p><strong>Vinicius Junior has responded to alleged abuse during Real Madrid’s Champions League win over Benfica by saying “racists are cowards”.</p>
<p>The 25-year-old left the field in Lisbon after reporting a member of the Benfica team – whom the Spanish side later claimed to have been winger Gianluca Prestianni – to the referee.</p>
<p>The match was paused in line with UEFA regulations, resulting in a stoppage in play that lasted 10 minutes, with Vinicius going on to complete the full game in Real’s 1-0 win.</strong></p>
<figure id="attachment_187759" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-187759" style="width: 640px" class="wp-caption alignnone"><img src="https://londonglossy.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/IMG_1025.jpeg" alt="" width="640" height="427" class="size-full wp-image-187759" /><figcaption id="caption-attachment-187759" class="wp-caption-text">Vinicius Junior was allegedly targeted by a Benfica player</figcaption></figure>
<p><strong>Vinicius hit out at the implementation of UEFA’s protocol put in place to tackle such incidents, while the governing body confirmed it is reviewing reports from Tuesday’s matches.</p>
<p>The flash-point came after the Brazil forward had given his team the lead with a wonderful individual strike five minutes into the second half.</p>
<p>After celebrating in front of the home fans, he became visibly upset about something said to him and immediately informed the referee.</p>
<p>After the game, Vinicius posted in Portuguese on his Instagram story: “Racists are, above all, cowards. They need to put their shirts in their mouths to demonstrate how weak they are.</p>
<p>“But they have protection from others who, theoretically, have the obligation to punish. Nothing that happened today is new in my life and my family’s.</p>
<p>“I received a yellow card for celebrating a goal. Still not understanding why. On the other side, just a poorly executed protocol that served no purpose.</p>
<p>“I don’t like to appear in situations like this, even more so after a great victory and when the headlines have to be about Real Madrid, but it’s necessary.”</p>
<p>A UEFA spokesman said: “The official reports from the matches played last night are currently being reviewed. Where matters are reported, proceedings are opened and, should they lead to disciplinary sanctions being imposed, they are announced on the UEFA disciplinary website.</p>
<p>“We have no further information to provide you or any further comment to make on this matter at this stage.”</strong></p>
<figure id="attachment_187761" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-187761" style="width: 640px" class="wp-caption alignnone"><img src="https://londonglossy.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/IMG_1026.jpeg" alt="" width="640" height="427" class="size-full wp-image-187761" /><figcaption id="caption-attachment-187761" class="wp-caption-text">A plastic bottle filled with water is thrown from the stands towards Vinicius</figcaption></figure>
<p><strong>In a statement in Portuguese on Instagram, shared by Benfica on social media, Prestianni denied making racist comments.</p>
<p>He wrote: “I want to clarify that at no time did I direct racist insults to Vini Jr, who regrettably misunderstood what he thought he heard.</p>
<p>“I was never racist with anyone and I regret the threats I received from Real Madrid players.”</p>
<p>Benfica boss Jose Mourinho was criticised for suggesting Vinicius had provoked the abuse, while Trent Alexander-Arnold called the incident “a disgrace to football”.</p>
<p>Mourinho had said to Amazon Prime: “I told him, when you score a goal like that you just celebrate and walk back. They (Vinicius and Prestianni) told me different things. But I don’t believe in one or another. I want to be an independent.”</strong><strong></p>
<figure id="attachment_187763" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-187763" style="width: 640px" class="wp-caption alignnone"><img src="https://londonglossy.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/IMG_1027.jpeg" alt="" width="640" height="427" class="size-full wp-image-187763" /><figcaption id="caption-attachment-187763" class="wp-caption-text">Benfica’s head coach Jose Mourinho talks with Vinicius Junior after the incident</figcaption></figure>
<p>Mourinho then appeared to comment on previous incidents in which Vinicius has been subject to racist abuse in stadiums.</p>
<p>The Brazilian has spoken out multiple times against racism he has been subject to inside stadiums, saying in November 2024: “I play in Spain, where I suffered a lot and still suffer.”</p>
<p>In June of that year, three Valencia fans were jailed for eight months for racially abusing him during a LaLiga game in May 2023, in the first verdict of its kind in Spain.</p>
<p>“There is something wrong because it happens in every stadium,” said Mourinho. “A stadium where Vinicius plays something happens, always.”</p>
<p>Former Real Madrid midfielder Clarence Seedorf, who was working as a pundit at the game, thinks Mourinho made “a big mistake” with his comments.</p>
<p>He said on Amazon Prime: “I think he made a big mistake today to justify racial abuse, and I’m not saying that was the case today but he mentioned something more than today.</p>
<p>“He said wherever he goes these things happen, so he’s saying it’s OK when Vinicius provokes you, that is it OK to be racist and I think that is very wrong.</p>
<p>“We should never, ever justify racial abuse.”</p>
<p>England right-back Alexander-Arnold said: “I think what has happened tonight is a disgrace to football and overshadowed the performance as well after an amazing goal.</p>
<p>“Vini has been subject to this a few times throughout his career. To ruin a night like this for our team is a disgrace. No place for it in football or society. It is disgusting.”</p>
			<div style="padding-bottom:15px;" class="wordads-tag" data-slot-type="belowpost">
				<div id="atatags-dynamic-belowpost-69f3c7e2ea5c4">
					<script type="text/javascript">
						window.getAdSnippetCallback = function () {
							if ( false === ( window.isWatlV1 ?? false ) ) {
								// Use Aditude scripts.
								window.tudeMappings = window.tudeMappings || [];
								window.tudeMappings.push( {
									divId: 'atatags-dynamic-belowpost-69f3c7e2ea5c4',
									format: 'belowpost',
								} );
							}
						}

						if ( document.readyState === 'loading' ) {
							document.addEventListener( 'DOMContentLoaded', window.getAdSnippetCallback );
						} else {
							window.getAdSnippetCallback();
						}
					</script>
				</div>
			</div>
Discover more from London Glossy Post
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.
