Firestorm After Vinicius' Breakthrough
The tension was palpable after **Vinicius Jr** unleashed a brilliant finish, putting **Real Madrid** ahead. His subsequent celebration by the corner flag ignited a furious reaction from **Benfica** players and their passionate home crowd.
Defender **Nicolas Otamendi** confronted the Brazilian winger, while teammates rushed in, leading to separate shoving matches. **Vinicius Jr** ultimately received a yellow card for "excessive celebration," but the true drama was only just beginning.
Racism Protocol Engaged in Lisbon
Just as the chaos seemed to subside, **Vinicius Jr** astonishingly approached the referee, reporting something **Gianluca Prestianni** of **Benfica** had allegedly said to him. This immediate action triggered **FIFA**'s newly implemented racism protocol, bringing the game to a complete halt.
**Real Madrid** sensation **Kylian Mbappé** was visibly incensed, showing solidarity with his teammate. The protocol, introduced in May 2024, mandates a three-step process, starting with stopping play. **Vinicius Jr**, clearly distraught, sat on the **Real Madrid** bench, initially refusing to continue.
The match experienced a jarring **10-minute delay**, a stark reminder of football's ongoing battle against prejudice. Amidst the stoppage, a **Benfica** backroom staff member was red-carded, and even their head coach, **Jose Mourinho**, attempted to speak with **Vinicius Jr**.
A Familiar and Frightening Pattern
While television replays didn't definitively capture **Prestianni**'s words, **Vinicius Jr**'s swift and emotional reaction spoke volumes. This incident is unfortunately not isolated for the **25-year-old** forward, who has faced numerous crowd clashes and racist abuse throughout his career in Spain.
Later in the match, **Vinicius Jr** was struck on the arm by an object thrown from the stands, further highlighting the hostile environment. His **Real Madrid** teammates were quick to condemn the events.
Defender **Trent Alexander-Arnold** didn't mince words, calling the situation "disgusting" and a "disgrace for football." Head coach **Alvaro Arbeloa** echoed the sentiment, emphasizing the collective responsibility to "fight against this type of attitude."
Benfica's Frustration Boils Over
The ugly scenes continued to unravel, with **Jose Mourinho** himself eventually dismissed from the touchline after receiving two quick yellow cards for dissent. His frustration, though understandable, means **Benfica** will now be without their charismatic leader for the crucial return leg in Madrid.
**Real Madrid** players were continuously pelted by missiles from the home crowd, underscoring the volatile atmosphere. **Benfica** now faces the daunting task of overturning a one-goal deficit without their manager, while the wider football world grapples with yet another chapter in the fight against racism.
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