Real Madrid forward Kylian Mbappé has insisted that he personally witnessed the alleged racist comments directed at his teammate, Vinícius Júnior, by Gianluca Prestianni of Benfica during their UEFA Champions League playoff first leg clash.
The Champions League knockout stage match was halted for ten minutes after Vinícius refused to continue playing following the remarks made by Prestianni. The incident unfolded shortly after Vinícius netted the only goal of the match with a stunning finish. Following the goal, he had a confrontation with Prestianni, who lifted his shirt to cover his mouth before reportedly making offensive comments.
Referee François Letexier was compelled to pause the game to address the situation.
“The number 25 from Benfica—I won’t mention his name because he doesn’t deserve it,” Mbappé told reporters after the match. “He pulled up his shirt to cover his mouth and said ‘Vinícius is a monkey’ five times. I heard it, and several players from Benfica heard it too.”
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