Trent Alexander-Arnold has labeled the reported racist abuse directed at his teammate Vinicius Junior during Real Madrid’s Champions League match against Benfica as a “disgrace to football.” Opposition manager Jose Mourinho has faced criticism for his remarks regarding the incident.
The match was paused for ten minutes after Vinicius reported alleged racist remarks from Benfica’s Gianluca Prestianni to referee Francois Letexier, leading him and his teammates to temporarily exit the field.
In response to the incident, the Brazilian forward, who has faced similar racial abuse throughout his career, expressed on Instagram: “Racists are, above all, cowards.”
Mourinho suggested that Vinicius did not “celebrate in a respectful manner” after scoring a spectacular goal that helped secure a 1-0 victory for Real Madrid, which preceded the incident at Estadio da Luz.
The former Real Madrid and Chelsea manager stated, “There is something wrong because it happens in every stadium. Whenever Vinicius plays, something occurs.”
Reacting to Mourinho’s comments, former Real Madrid midfielder Clarence Seedorf stated on Amazon Prime: “I think he is still emotional. He made a significant error in trying to justify racial abuse. It is unacceptable to think that a provocation allows for such behavior. We must never condone racial abuse. Vinicius has endured enough of this unjustified treatment, and while I believe Mourinho would agree, his words were unfortunately misinterpreted.”
Alexander-Arnold condemned the situation in his post-match interview, stating, “What transpired tonight is an affront to football, overshadowing both the performance and an incredible goal. This type of behavior has dogged Vini throughout his career, and it’s disgraceful to ruin a night like this for our team. There is no place for such actions in football or in society. It’s abhorrent.”
Mourinho’s Comments
Vinicius’ goal secured a 1-0 win for Real Madrid in the first leg of their Champions League knockout tie [Getty Images]
After Vinicius decided to leave the pitch due to the altercation with Prestianni, Mourinho was seen talking to him. In his post-match interview, he mentioned receiving differing accounts from Vinicius and Prestianni about the incident. He argued that Vinicius’ celebration was disrespectful and highlighted Benfica’s legendary player Eusebio to assert that the club is not racist.
When asked if he believed Vinicius incited the crowd, Mourinho replied, “Yes, I believe so. It should have been the highlight of the game, an amazing goal. Unfortunately, he was not just happy to score such a remarkable goal. When you score like that, you celebrate respectfully.”
He further remarked, “When you score like that, you should just celebrate and move on. I told Vinicius that the greatest figure in this club’s history was a black man. Benfica is the last club that would be associated with racism. They both provided different explanations, but I choose to remain neutral.”
Commenting on Mourinho’s remarks, former England international Theo Walcott stated on Amazon Prime: “I maintain my composure and rarely get angry. I respect all that Jose Mourinho has done in the sport, but he made an unfortunate choice tonight in how he decided to respond; this was not the moment for him to be in front of the cameras.”
Next Steps
Kylian Mbappe, Vinicius’ teammate at Real Madrid, has called for Prestianni to be banned from Champions League play following the alleged incident.
“I have never experienced anything like this, and in serious matters, clarity is crucial,” said the French forward. “I have great respect for Benfica and their coach, who has a historic connection with Real Madrid. Nevertheless, this player should not be allowed to participate in the Champions League anymore. Such behavior has no place in top-level football. It’s up to UEFA to address the issue properly. They have a serious case now, and I hope they take appropriate actions.”
Vinicius alerted the referee to the alleged racist remarks from Gianluca Prestianni early in the second half [Getty Images]
As the two clubs prepare for the second leg in Madrid next Wednesday, Walcott has called for immediate action from UEFA.
“This cannot be a prolonged issue that takes months to resolve; it needs to be addressed instantly,” Walcott emphasized.
Former Arsenal striker Thierry Henry reflected on his experiences with racist abuse during his career, saying, “I can relate to what Vinicius Junior is experiencing. I have faced similar situations many times on the pitch. At times, you feel isolated because it turns into a he-said, she-said scenario. We may never know exactly what was said, but Prestianni’s actions suggest he might have something to hide.”