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

He is defending his club defending a racist prick.
What is shocking about that Benfica statement is when they say that he represents Benficas values. Well, at least they are being honest on one thing.

 

Listen mate, the issue is dividing this into an us vs them and projecting onto me things I never said.
I would like to see P removed from the UCL entirely and sanctioned by all relevant bodies.
I would likr this to happen after due process - aka a proper investigation.
I dont agree with painting everybody on the benfica side including mourinho as bad actors because their player denies the accusation completely. At no point did anybody say - vinicius celebrated so he was asking for it or vinicius celebrated so he provoked racism. The message on their side is : our player said he didnt and we believe him. Im not sure whats so patently immoral about this?
If my family member was accused of something and they denied it wholeheartedly - best believe i wouldnt automatically publicly condemn them before an investigation

 

🚨 BREAKING: The Portuguese government has now decided to get involved in the Prestianni - Vinicius Junior case and begin investigations, as per Diario AS. pic.twitter.com/RPOqnvlcFv

— Madrid Universal (@MadridUniversal) February 18, 2026

 

Kate Scott's powerful statement on racism in football ❤️ pic.twitter.com/kWUvH5Ts05

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

 

🚨 Mark Clattenburg issues an apology. pic.twitter.com/bsZf65mQlM

— Madrid Xtra (@MadridXtra) February 18, 2026

 

🚨 Luisao (historic Benfica legend):

“I love Benfica, it’s my second skin. You have to be worthy to wear the sacred jersey. This message makes it worse because it’s a lie… football is won with grit, with fight… He was a racist rat, YES, and I am ashamed of that.” pic.twitter.com/2slkzoANAq

— Madrid Xtra (@MadridXtra) February 18, 2026

 

Benfica player, Richard Rios posted his photo with Vinicius after the game.

Without any caption. pic.twitter.com/f7N5hDPrEZ

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

Benfica player, Richard Rios posted his photo with Vinicius after the game.

Without any caption. pic.twitter.com/f7N5hDPrEZ

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

 

Kate wholeheartedly agreed with me. This looks bad not only on the racist player, but the club, its fans and Jose Mourinho. They all tried to gaslight the world that it was somehow Vini's fault and not their shameful, base behavior. I'm glad more people are taking a stand against it. It's despicable.

As Kate also mentioned, if it's shameful enough to have to cover your mouth, then perhaps you're the one who is wrong.

Rather than admit mistakes or ask for forgiveness, they deny and deflect. Shame on you, those who try to justify the lack of action or consequences for that racist punk.

 

Lol do we have selective memory now? Jose Mourinho just said exactly that in a roundabout way. The referee likely agreed too because he carded Vini for nothing other than celebrating while did absolutely nothing about the jerk who called a player a monkey. Just because you can't prove it doesn't mean it didn't happen. The player knew exactly what he was doing by covering his mouth. He wanted plausible deniability and he got what he wanted. He thought he'd get away with it.

But that only happens if people let him. I'm glad he's getting ripped apart for being the vile human being that he is. The world deserves to know that. Maybe he will have the courage to sling insults with his mouth uncovered now?

 

See, we disagree about our respective interpretations of our statements, and I think you are foaming at the mouth at the wrong person. You are hearing what you want to hear man.

As for this: "I'm glad he's getting ripped apart for being the vile human being that he is. The world deserves to know that. Maybe he will have the courage to sling insults with his mouth uncovered now?"

I agree 100%.


I don't have much else to add - I have written sufficiently on the topic.

 

Don't know how many times I need to repeat this on the internet: Eyewitness testimony is not only a perfectly valid form of evidence, it is the most common type of evidence used in courts. There is not "zero proof." Witnesses are judged on credibility and their testimony is weighed in combination with other facts on the ground. I found Mbappe's comments extremely credible and convincing. His and Vini's reactions are completely in line with their version of events. Prestianni's immediate reaction, his covering of his mouth, the timing of his alleged slur, his ducking of post-match interviews, and taking hours to come up with an excuse of saying a different, similar sounding slur, do not line-up with his version of events.

Further, you and @SayWhatIWant (ironic username) are implying that we on this forum or any of the public are dispensing justice. This is only the court of public opinion, obviously justice will only be handed out after the investigation, no one has remotely suggested otherwise, quit it with this "mob justice" accusation and stating the inevitable and obvious, "he should only be punished after an investigation."

 

Show me where I said "he should only be punished after an investigation". Stop fn putting words in my mouth!

 

Then I don't even know what point you're trying to make in posts like this: https://www.bigsoccer.com/threads/b...02-26-21-00-cet.2137922/page-16#post-43493210

beyond saying that Mourinho wasn't going to throw his own player under the bus, which of course he wasn't, everyone's point is that he shouldn't have gone beyond that to repeatedly imply Vini brought it upon himself with his celebration, which wasn't even particularly provocative, though that is beside the point.

 

Can you conceive of a world where ppl at Benfica genuinely believe their player's testimony or is that completely out of the realm of possibility?

 

No eff off, Mark. You showed your true colours and you got to face the consequences. I'm done with these 'apologies' published just to keep their job, income and 'reputation' (if any). Idiot!

 

Politicians being politicians.

 

The referee just gave in to the whole Vini is not allow to dance when he gave him that ridiculous yellow card. And that no 25 followed him like a prick and repeatedly said shit while covering his mouth with his shirt.

I will be very disappointed if the guy isnt punished.

 

Yea. Why did ref give yellow to Vini for him dancing? Griezmann should be having as many yellows as goals he scored then.

 

Brazil NT on X. ✊ pic.twitter.com/eh05IKHDmZ

— Madrid Xtra (@MadridXtra) February 19, 2026

🚨 Sources close to Vinicius Jr say he feels supported by Real Madrid since the incident vs Benfica. @MarioCortegana pic.twitter.com/tQJDa6QdxQ

— Madrid Xtra (@MadridXtra) February 19, 2026

 

Guess who was the only person in the stands to applaud the game stoppage for the anti-racism protocol.

pic.twitter.com/2M8QHEUTCI

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

Lewis Hamilton reply to Vini. 🤝 pic.twitter.com/5ei49B7NcV

— Madrid Xtra (@MadridXtra) February 19, 2026

🗣️ Antony: “Racism is a very dangerous thing. I have a black mother and a black brother, and personally, I feel this impact.”

“If you want to criticize or insult someone, do it in another way or in a provocative manner, but not through racism.” pic.twitter.com/qyMgkswaQK

— Madrid Xtra (@MadridXtra) February 19, 2026

 

I think since the racism has been the main topic we have kind of forgotten the other problem which is that he got a ridiculous yellow card for dancing. Shame on the referee. Funny thing is he gave him the yellow but it was that prick who ran up to him to instigate a fight. If he was doing his job properly he would have carded the player for creating something from nothing. And what's there to be offended about. I didn't give a shit whenever Griezmann did his whole fortnite celebration just thought it was cringe.

Every other footballer dances these days. I swear everything Vini does rubs people the wrong way. Soon his whole no look shoot celebration will be seen as something provocative. I am with Vini 100%, he has been treated awfully.

I am so happy so many people have come out in support. It is not easy to take this fight at such a young age. Decades ago nobody would've helped him now there are people behind him. And what a powerful postmatch interview by Mbappe. Huge huge respect for that given it puts him in the firing line too. That's someone who walks the talk. There is silent support that I reckon most of our players are doing and there is public support with powerful statements and thats what Mbappe did that could also make him public enemy number 1 and he didn't even hesitate. Well done!

 

The more I watch the yellow on Vini for the celebration, the more i scratch my head.

 

Hope we appeal the yellow card

 

Vini Jr reposted this on his IG story 💙🤍🕺🏿 pic.twitter.com/I0A4BPXVZX

— Kay | Snapchat & IG Ads (@KayRMFC) February 18, 2026