Need to know
Ugly scenes marred in Lisbon during the Champions League play-off match between Benfica and Real Madrid on Tuesday night.
Everything you need to know about what Kylian Mbappe has said regarding the alleged racism incident involving Vinicius [Vini] Junior and Gianluca Prestianni during the Champions League play‑off match.
- The allegation: Shortly after scoring in the 50th minute, Vini accused Prestianni of directing a racist comment at him while the Benfica player covered his mouth with his shirt to hide the slur. Referee Francois Letexier activated the FIFA/UEFA anti-racism protocol by making a crossed-arms ‘X’ gesture, leading to a 10-to-15-minute stoppage where Vini initially refused to play and sat in the dugout.
- The aftermath: Prestianni has denied the claims on social media with Benfica standing by him while Vini Jr. took to Instagram to label racists as ‘cowards.’ He also criticised the officials for booking him for his goal celebration during the chaos.
- Mbappe’s condemnation of Prestianni: Kylian Mbappe took a harsh stance against the young player, dismissing as a ‘kid.’ He argued that Prestianni’s actions were so severe that he no longer deserves the privilege of playing in the Champions League.
- Respect for the institution and Jose Mourinho’s thoughts: The French forward clarified that he holds no ill will toward Benfica as a club or their historical status in football. He specifically praised Mourinho as being one of the best coaches in the history of Real Madrid.
- Mbappe demands for UEFA investigation: Mbappe directly challenged UEFA to use their high-quality camera technology to investigate the incident thoroughly – stating: “You have the best cameras. Analyse his face. He covered his face so we can’t read his lips. His face does not lie.”
- Recurring abuse and Mbappe’s support: Mbappe claimed he personally heard the player use a specific racial slur five times while hiding behind his jersey. He also emphasised that the entire Real Madrid squad is united and will never leave Vini Junior to face these situations alone and are prepared to do whatever is necessary to support their teammate.
- Mbappe’s response to the lack of apology: When asked if the player had apologised, Mbappe laughed and stated that the team is ‘not stupid.’ He questioned how such a young player could say those things on a pitch and insisted that he would not let the situation slide.
- Mourinho’s defence and accusation: The Benfica boss declined to condemn the alleged racist abuse, stating he wanted to remain ‘independent’ because there were two different versions of the story. He instead pointed the finger at Vini, claiming the Brazilian incited the crowd and the opposition with his goal celebration.
- Mourinho called a ‘hypocrite’: Jamie Carragher labelled Mourinho a hypocrite for criticising a player’s celebrations when Mourinho himself has spent his career antagonising opposition fans. Meanwhile, Micah Richards and Theo Walcott both expressed their disappointment, emphasising that as a powerful figure in the sport, Mourinho should have used his platform to condemn abuse rather than deflect from it.
