Trent Alexander-Arnold has described the alleged racist harassment aimed at Vinícius Júnior as "disgusting" after the incident during Real Madrid's narrow 1-0 win against Benfica on Tuesday night, February 18.
The encounter at Estádio da Luz was temporarily halted for over ten minutes when Vinícius accused Benfica midfielder Gianluca Prestianni of using racist slurs shortly after the Brazilian netted the match-winning goal early in the second half.
"It’s disgusting. What transpired tonight is an embarrassment for football," stated Alexander-Arnold, who previously played for Liverpool. "It has overshadowed the team’s performance this evening."
Vinícius scored a brilliant goal in the 50th minute, prompting a celebration in front of the home crowd that escalated tensions with Prestianni. The Brazilian later informed referee François Letexier that he was referred to as "mono," which translates to monkey in Spanish. He received a yellow card for his celebration before the racism protocol was activated.
Real Madrid forward Kylian Mbappé also called for strict penalties if the allegations are verified.
"Such behavior has no place in Europe’s premier competition," Mbappé remarked. "If it is confirmed, he should be banned from playing in the Champions League again."
Midfielder Aurélien Tchouaméni supported Vinícius' claims of racial abuse, while captain Federico Valverde shared that teammates overheard "something ugly" during the altercation.
"Covering your mouth while speaking often indicates that you are aware your words are inappropriate," Valverde told Spanish media. "I admire how Vini maintained his composure and continued to perform."
In a response on social media, Kylian Mbappé shared a video highlighting Prestianni's alleged comments, stating that he had heard the slur multiple times and was the first to address him about it.
Additionally, another Twitter user condemned the actions of Portuguese fans, describing the racial abuse of Vinícius as unacceptable and urging Portugal to improve its actions.
Benfica's coach José Mourinho defended Prestianni, claiming he denied the allegations and critiqued Vinícius for inciting the crowd with his goal celebration. Mourinho was later shown a red card for arguing that Vinícius should have been booked for a second time.
This incident has reignited concerns over racism in European football, particularly as Vinícius, at 25, has faced similar insults in Spain before. For instance, in 2023, he confronted fans at Valencia's Mestalla Stadium for comparable derogatory language, and several Atlético Madrid supporters have faced legal actions for racist conduct directed at him.
After a temporary suspension under UEFA’s anti-racism protocol, the match continued without further issues, with Real Madrid eventually securing a crucial away victory.
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