Real Madrid players left the field and play was halted for 10 minutes during their Champions League clash with Benfica on Tuesday evening after Vinicius Junior reported alleged racist abuse from Gianluca Prestianni
Jose Mourinho has claimed that “something happens” in every stadium Vinicius Junior plays in, after the Real Madrid player alleged that he had been racially abused by Gianluca Prestianni on Tuesday evening. Play was halted for around 10 minutes as the Brazilian and his team-mates left the field in the second-half of the Champions League clash with Benfica.
Vini Jr gave his side the lead 50 minutes into the fixture at the Estadio da Luz, before dancing by the corner flag in front of home supporters. Before the match continued, the winger exchanged words with Prestianni, before reporting him to the referee after an alleged racist comment.
As tensions inside the stadium flared, Mourinho was seen speaking with Real Madrid players, including Vini Jr and Kylian Mbappe. And the Portuguese head coach gave his take on matters at full-time, in an interview with Amazon Prime.
READ MORE: Trent Alexander-Arnold slams alleged racist abuse of Vinicius Junior – ‘A disgrace’READ MORE: Jose Mourinho SENT OFF after furious outburst in Real Madrid v Benfica clash
Mourinho said: “It should be the crazy moment of the game, an amazing goal in a good game. These talents are able to do these beautiful things but unfortunately he [Vinicius] was not just happy to score that astonishing goal and then the game was over. When you score a goal like that you celebrate in a respectful way.”
The Portuguese head coach was then asked if he believed that Vinicius Jr ‘incited’ the home crowd and players with his celebration, to which, he responded: “Yeah, I believe so. The words they exchange, Prestianni with Vinicius, I want to be independent. I don’t comment about it.”
Mourinho then explained what he was spotted speaking Vini Jr about during the break in play, adding: “I told him that when you score a goal like that you just celebrate and walk back. And then when he was arguing about racism I told him the biggest person in the history of this club was black [Eusebio]. This club, the last thing it is is racist, so if in his mind it was something in relation to that, this is Benfica.”
In a shocking turn of phrase, the 63-year-old then claimed that there’s controversy pertaining to Vini Jr in “every stadium” he plays in. He continued: “There is something wrong because it happens in every stadium.
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“Every stadium that Vinicius plays [in] something happens. Always. I’m saying that it was a good 50 minutes of football, millions of people watching around the world, a crazy goal absolutely crazy goal and then game over.”
It comes as Vini Jr has also released his own statement in the aftermath of the 1-0 win over Benfica in the first leg of the Champions League play-off knockouts. He said: “Racists are, above all, cowards.
“They need to put their shirts in their mouths to show how weak they are. But they have the protection of others who, theoretically, have an obligation to punish them.
“Nothing that happened today is new in my life or in my team’s life. I received a yellow card for celebrating a goal. I still don’t understand why.
“On the other hand, it was just a poorly executed protocol that served no purpose. I don’t like to appear in situations like this, especially after a big win and when the headlines should be about Real Madrid, but it’s necessary.”
Elsewhere, Prestianni has also broken his silence on the claims he directed racist abuse toward Vini Jr. He said: “I want to clarify that at no time did I direct racist insults to Vini Jr, who regrettably misunderstood what he thought he heard. I was never racist with anyone and I regret the threats I received from Real Madrid players.”
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