Real Madrid’s clash against Benfica in the first leg of the UEFA Champions League playoffs was a heated affair in Lisbon on multiple levels, so much so that the non-football matters trumped the actual game and stole the spotlight.
From Vinicius Jr.’s celebration to the on-field racial abuse and the clashes between players and even staff members of both sides, tensions ran high throughout the game.
Eventually, however, Real Madrid did take home a 1-0 lead made sweeter by the fact that it was Vinicius who scored. After all, the winger was the centre of all the attention and controversy on the night.
Inter Milan legend weighs in
Speaking to the media after the game, former Real Madrid attacking midfielder Wesley Sneijder opened up about the incident between Vinicius Jr. and Gianluca Prestianni and how the Benfica player’s actions are simply unacceptable.
“Prestianni should be a man, and not cover his mouth while saying that to Vinicius. If you are going to say it, at least say it without covering your mouth.”
He then made it very clear how racism has no place in football and how poorly it reflects on the sport to still have individuals call darker coloured athletes names.
“It’s a scandal that people still keep calling black people ‘Monkey’!
A massive controversy erupted yesterday. (Photo by Angel Martinez/Getty Images)
“Oh, and something else. Prestianni literally has black teammates! What on earth will they be thinking?” he added.
Sneijder then spoke on the incident between Nicolas Otamendi and Vinicius Jr., where after a brief altercation, the former showed the Real Madrid star his tattoo of the FIFA World Cup, his Copa America titles and Finalissima.
“What Otamendi did was super childish. Is he alright in the head? He was literally 1-0 down as well,” he began.
“If I were Vinícius, I would have responded with ‘Messi won that World Cup for you, you had nothing to do with it’,” he added.
Speaking on how Otamendi’s reaction was very immature, the Dutch legend said,
“Why is he doing this to a Real Madrid player? Does he have any idea how many CL titles Vinícius has won? & he is showing him trophies?”
Source: The Touchline