Spanish Footballers Association Demands UEFA Investigation into Alleged Racism Incident Involving Vinicius

The Spanish Footballers Association (AFE) has formally requested that UEFA conduct a thorough investigation into racist insults allegedly directed at Brazilian Real Madrid player Vinicius by Argentine Benfica player Gianluca Prestianni. This request comes nearly 24 hours after the incident transpired on the field during a match at the Da Luz Stadium in Lisbon, where the game was disrupted for almost ten minutes following Vinicius's report of being called a "monkey" by Prestianni. In response to the allegations, UEFA has appointed an ethics and disciplinary inspector to look into the claims. The governing body confirmed that it is reviewing official reports from the matches played on the same night to ensure a complete assessment of the situation. If disciplinary sanctions are deemed necessary as a result of the findings, these will be made public on UEFA's disciplinary website. In its communication, AFE emphasized the need for a thorough investigation to ascertain whether Vinicius was indeed subjected to racist behavior, and it urged UEFA to implement appropriate disciplinary measures if the claims are validated. Additionally, the AFE advocates for enhanced protocols to combat discrimination within the sport. According to UEFA's Disciplinary Code, athletes found guilty of acts that insult the dignity of individuals or groups—based on factors such as skin color, race, religion, and more—can be suspended for a minimum of ten matches. Furthermore, UEFA's regulations provide clarity that matches may be forfeited if they are halted due to racist conduct, showing the organization’s commitment to addressing such issues rigorously. The unfortunate incident during the Benfica vs. Real Madrid match occurred shortly after Vinicius scored the game’s sole goal in the 49th minute, celebrated with a dance near the corner flag. It was at this point that Prestianni reportedly made the derogatory remarks while attempting to conceal his mouth with his shirt. Following Vinicius's accusation, tensions escalated, and players, including Kylian Mbappé, contemplated leaving the field in protest. Mbappé later stated, "What I saw is very clear; number 25 has called Vini a monkey multiple times," supporting Vinicius's claims. In a strong rebuttal, Vinicius remarked that individuals who resort to racist insults are "cowards" and cowardly hide their faces to mask their weakness. On his part, Gianluca Prestianni has denied the allegations through social media, claiming he has received threats from Real Madrid players in the wake of the incident. This controversy underscores the ongoing challenge of racism in football and the necessity for organizations like UEFA to take decisive action against discriminatory behavior in the sport to protect its players and preserve the integrity of the game. Related Sources: • Source 1 • Source 2