Vinicius Junior scores a wonder goal and faces accusations of racism in the Champions League.
Real Madrid's victory over Benfica was overshadowed by a racism scandal and controversial remarks from Jose Mourinho targeting Vinicius Junior.
The Champions League play-off match between Benfica and Real Madrid ended with a 1-0 victory for the visitors, but the focus wasn't on the game itself. Heated controversies surrounding racism and a verbal clash between Vinicius Junior and manager Jose Mourinho transformed the stadium into a cauldron of tension.
The masterpiece was overshadowed by the chaos.
At the start of the second half, Vinicius Junior produced a superb solo run from the left wing before unleashing a powerful shot, scoring the only goal for Real Madrid. However, the Brazilian striker's celebratory dance in the corner of the pitch provoked anger from the home fans. Numerous bottles and other objects were thrown onto the pitch, targeting the Real Madrid star.
The incident culminated when Vinicius accused Gianluca Prestianni of Benfica of racist remarks. Referee Francois Letexier immediately activated FIFA's anti-racism protocol, causing a 10-minute suspension of the match. Television footage showed Prestianni covering his mouth during the conversation, making it difficult to verify his alibi.
Jose Mourinho's controversial statement
After the match, Jose Mourinho surprisingly did not side with the victim but instead publicly criticized Vinicius Junior's attitude. The Portuguese strategist argued that the Real Madrid star had acted in an excessively provocative manner towards the fans in Lisbon.
"I believe he provoked the crowd. Vinicius should have just celebrated that beautiful goal respectfully and then returned to the pitch," Mourinho frankly shared. He also cited the legend Eusebio to affirm that Benfica is never a racist club. At the end of the match, Mourinho even received a red card from referee Letexier for his excessive reactions on the touchline.
A wave of protests from experts.
Mourinho's remarks immediately drew fierce criticism from former players. Clarence Seedorf argued that Mourinho was trying to justify his misconduct by blaming the victim. Wayne Rooney also expressed his disappointment: "Why shouldn't a player be allowed to celebrate a wonder goal? Throwing bottles onto the pitch is inexcusable under any circumstances."
Vinicius Junior asserted on social media that racists are cowards who cover their mouths to hide their weakness. Conversely, Benfica and player Prestianni completely denied the accusations, claiming they were merely normal professional taunts. UEFA has now officially launched an investigation into the incident based on the match supervisor's report.
