On Tuesday (17), Vinícius Júnior took to social media to address yet another incident of racism directed at him.
In his statement, he branded racists as cowards and criticized the anti-racism measures implemented by referees during the Champions League match between Benfica and Real Madrid.
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Though he did not explicitly mention Argentine player Gianluca Prestianni, who faced accusations during the match, he stated that “they need to cover their mouths with their shirts to highlight their weakness.”
Prior to Vinícius Jr. approaching the referee to report the racist incident, the Benfica player had obscured his face with his shirt.
The Brazilian forward expressed confusion over receiving a yellow card after his goal celebration, which secured victory for his team.
Here’s his full statement:
Racists are, first and foremost, cowards. They cover their mouths with their shirts to reveal their weakness.
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However, they are supported by others who are supposed to enforce punishment. This is not new to me or my family.
I received a yellow card for celebrating a goal, and I still don’t understand the reason behind it. Meanwhile, the protocol followed was poorly executed and ineffective.
I dislike being involved in situations like this, especially after a significant win when the focus should be on Real Madrid. Nonetheless, it’s necessary to speak out.
This article was translated into English using Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇧🇷 here.