BENFICA vs REAL MADRID | Champions League Playoff 1st Leg | 17.02.26 | 21:00 CET

Players cover their mouth all the time and he was covering his mouth in every interaction before that.

 

Corroborating accounts that don’t prove jack shit. Wow, another player from the same team said he heard it? Literally does nothing to dispel the potential scenario I highlighted. Two players can next time say they heard something and that’s more believable? In a legal setting Mbappe would be under intense scrutiny as a witness - fact is he has a vested interest in standing by his teammate.

And he said he heard it 5 times. Ok, where’s the proof for the other 4 times? And if he said it 5 times, why did nobody react the first 4 times? The most logical conclusion is that nobody reacted the first 4 times because the claim is bullshit - either intentionally or some cognitive distortion and bias that influenced Mbappe. Either way, it brings into question the legitimacy of what he’s saying overall.

 

I understand that covering the mouth is common in football, but context matters.

In this instance:

1. The timing was critical – it happened immediately after a confrontation with Vini, not during routine play.l

2. Multiple corroborating accounts – Vini and teammates nearby all reported hearing something offensive.

3. The gesture alone isn’t the full evidence, it’s the combination of the gesture, the context, prior interactions, and witnesses’ reports that makes the case compelling.

 

@benficafan3 keeps talking about plausible deniability. I think once you hide your mouth by covering it with your shirt you lose that plausible deniability. For obvious reasons.

Are we going to have every player calling each other monkeys on the pitch but it will be fine because they can hide their mouth under their shirt? When a player complains we will say "hey plausible deniability". You are hiding your mouth for a reason.

"Plausible deniability" - the mantra of the moron.

Anyway no one cares, the whole world saw it.
- Your fans were racist doing monkey gestures behind the goal.
- Your manager was victim blaming and using the old "but I have a black friend"
- Prestianni your new martyr and hero had the guiltiest face I've ever seen reminiscent of when Bill Clinton denied having sexual relations with "that woman"
- Fans striking players with bottles and throwing steel vape pens on the pitch.

You will probably get away with it but everyone now associates your club with Racism. A historic club tarnished. Fans striking players with bottles, racist monkey gestures etc.

You guys will not live this down. You will not overcome this shame and embarrassment. I can understand why you come to our forum exasperated but you have already lost. The world saw it.

 

If somebody accused me of being racist I'd br livid and sue for defamation. The little rat just wanted everything to be over with. Didn't even have the courage to go and face Vini to tell him his side. I dont understand how anyone can defend the little prick. Oh and Benfica calling him an upstanding professional when he literally has priors and runs around like Gavi on the pitch. From the extended video his insults started from the celebration. Vini didn't hear but Mbappe heard and confronted him, then the players go back to their positions and because he knows Vini didn't hear him the first time he said it again to make sure he heard. I mean you couldn't be a bigger prick if you tried.

 

Have proper hearing like PL had in Suarez case with witnesses. None of that enabling BS that no evidence if you cover the mouth and no mic nearby. In court of law, valid witnesses are enough to get justice.

Those crying that'd be mob justice can cry when people get punished in real life based on witness testimony which happens often because it's not just about video or audio evidence. Hence I said PL are way more evolved in handling these things.

 

Yea. All that don't generalize Argentines mask came off. All he wants to do is play devil's advocate for that racist rat Prestianni who plays for his club.

 

If CL has any credibility, have a proper hearing and punish racist rat Prestianni based on witness testimony. Let Benfica cry protecting their racist asset after punishment like Liverpool did.

 

BREAKING: Football's equality and inclusion organisation Kick It Out have released a statement in response to Jose Mourinho's comments on Vinicius Junior 🚨 pic.twitter.com/f439rbA3kj

— Sky Sports News (@SkySportsNews) February 18, 2026

 

"He covered his mouth, so he's not guilty".

This situation just greenlights every punk to go out and say any racist comment they want with no consequences as long as their own team doesn't rat them out and they cover their mouth.

Is that not dangerous?

I honestly couldn't care less about the Benfica fan's opinion on here. Their fanbase showed their colors on live TV. Zero class.

 

Nobody is crying about anything. You going at us is exactly whats wrong. I absolutely agree with the rest of your post and do hope justice is served.

 

Dude I dont doubt that that POS rat coward was racist. Is there any nuance in the world? I am merely saying you cant act surprised that benfica wont automstically rip their player who denies it to shreds.

 

Mikaël Silvestre, member of the FIFA players' committee, speaks out about yesterday's events during Benfica-Real Madrid:

« We are looking for ways to sanction players who cover their mouths.

Some witnesses, like Kylian Mbappé, have stated that they clearly heard the words… pic.twitter.com/Ro7NGnHORe

— Real Madrid Info ³⁶ (@RMadridInfo) February 18, 2026

 

🚨 FIFA President, Infantino on IG. pic.twitter.com/YpXiOl1aac

— Madrid Xtra (@MadridXtra) February 18, 2026

🚨 JUST IN: Vini Jr. & Kylian Mbappé talked after the match, and Mbappé told him that he’ll speak publicly.

Vini is very grateful to his teammates for the support, especially Mbappé.

People close to Vini had a lot of gratitude for how Mbappé defended the player. @ESPNBrasil pic.twitter.com/hH34Ju8jmj

— Madrid Xtra (@MadridXtra) February 18, 2026

🚨 BREAKING: The GOVERNMENT of Portugal has decided to get involved in the case of Prestianni & Vini Jr.

They will hold an investigation. @diarioas pic.twitter.com/saVRoNgViv

— Madrid Xtra (@MadridXtra) February 18, 2026

🗣️ Kylian Mbappé: “Vini has went through a lot.

I think these things against Vini need to STOP, because it’s not possible for a human to have this much against him.

Vini isn’t the devil, he’s not a bad person, he’s a player who tries to bring you joy.

He makes mistakes, like… pic.twitter.com/sVBtievGA5

— Madrid Xtra (@MadridXtra) February 18, 2026

🚨 Fernando Campos (Brazilian commentator):

“Vini doing a provocative celebration? Why? because he danced?

When Griezmann used to do his L dance celebration, that wasn’t provocative? Why? Because he’s a little blonde boy with blue eyes?

We all know why Vini is targeted.” pic.twitter.com/euMVsmxVvo

— Madrid Xtra (@MadridXtra) February 18, 2026

 

Kylian Mbappé: “Vini has went through a lot. I think these things against Vini need to STOP, because it’s not possible for a human to have this much against him. Vini isn’t the devil, he’s not a bad person, he’s a player who tries to bring you joy. He makes mistakes, like everyone in the world, but he never deserves what happened to him today.”

I wish some of our own fans would take this in one day.

 

I see we got some racists here that can't stop cuz they been called out for their racism.
i got only one thing to say about this:

 

I understand your point.
Truth is RM would probably defend our player too. It’s a sad state of affairs tbh.

 

If we did I and many here wouldn't defend it, talk much go to the opponent's forum to gaslight them as well.

 

you have to guess what i said, as i was covering my mouth.

 

I am not defending p at all. Hope that's not what youre claiming. I know racism first hand. Dont you dare insinuate that I am defending this shit.

 

"It took a long time for us, inside our club, to accept we got this badly wrong. I just hope in time that Benfica can apologize."@Carra23 reflects on his involvement in the incident between Luis Suarez and Patrice Evra and what Benfica could learn from that situation. pic.twitter.com/t8nx7r5RHm

— CBS Sports Golazo ⚽️ (@CBSSportsGolazo) February 18, 2026

 

2024201659149168895 is not a valid tweet id

Sickening

 

Then what are you defending? Mourinho's right to use bizarre reasoning to justify Benfica's crowd reactions and his player covering his mouth repeatedly to say something offensive?

Make it make sense.

When you can't this is what people will read as enabling or defending.

I don't even care to get into this with you or anyone here. Just tired. I have dealt with this in my career and afterwards. I know the helplessness of how there is always a rationalization or excuse.