Portuguese club Benfica has announced an official investigation into the behavior of two of its fans after a video surfaced showing them making racist monkey gestures directed at Real Madrid's Brazilian star Vinicius Junior. The unfortunate incident occurred during the first leg of the Champions League quarter-final between the two teams, a match Real Madrid won 1-0 thanks to a goal by Vinicius himself. The video, which has been widely circulated on social media, has sparked outrage and once again highlighted the issue of racism prevalent in European stadiums.
A Benfica spokesperson confirmed the local media reports to AFP, stressing that the club would not tolerate such behavior. "If the two fans are involved with the club, they could face expulsion," the spokesperson said. The video, shared by former England international Rio Ferdinand, shows two fans wearing Benfica jerseys making offensive monkey gestures.
A recurring pattern of abuse
This incident is not the first of its kind for Vinicius Junior, who has become a global icon in the fight against racism in football. The Brazilian player has suffered repeated racist abuse in numerous Spanish and European stadiums, prompting him to speak out publicly and courageously against this phenomenon, demanding stricter measures from football authorities. His strong stance has made him a constant target of abusive chants, but at the same time, he has garnered significant international support for his cause.
The importance of the incident and its expected impact
This incident is particularly significant because it puts clubs and football associations, such as UEFA, under increasing pressure to impose deterrent sanctions. The issue is no longer just an isolated incident, but has become a true test of how seriously the football system addresses racism. Benfica's swift action in launching an internal investigation is a positive step, but the greater challenge lies in finding fundamental solutions to prevent the recurrence of such incidents and to promote a culture of respect in stadiums at the local, regional, and international levels.
Simultaneously, UEFA announced a separate investigation into the potential discriminatory conduct of Benfica's Argentinian player Gianluca Prestini, following accusations from Vinicius Junior that Prestini racially abused him during the match by calling him a "monkey." Prestini vehemently denied the accusations on his Instagram account, while his club, Benfica, defended him, claiming he was the victim of a smear campaign. Real Madrid, for its part, offered its full support to its player, confirming that it had provided UEFA with all available evidence regarding the incidents that led to the match being halted for approximately ten minutes.
