REAL’S VINICIUS CLAIMS BENFICA’S PRESTIANNI RACIALLY ABUSED HIM IN HEATED CLASH

VINICIUS Junior hit out at “cowards” after accusing Benfica’s Gianluca Prestianni of racially abusing him during Real Madrid’s 1-0 Champions League playoff first leg victory in Lisbon on Tuesday.

The game was stopped for more than 10 minutes due to a racism protocol after Vinicius complained to French referee Francois Letexier about the alleged abuse following a confrontation between him and Prestianni.

That came just moments after the 25-year-old Brazilian had scored a jitz goal worthy of settling any contest.

Vinicius wrote on Instagram in reference to Prestianni having hidden his mouth with his jersey during the pair’s clash: “Racists are, above all, cowards. They need to put their shirts over their mouths to show how weak they are.

“But they have, at their side, the protection of others who, theoretically, are obligated to punish,” he added after the racism protocol did not lead to any concrete action against Benfica’s Argentine midfielder.

“Nothing that happened today [Tuesday] should be tolerated in my life or my family’s.

“I don’t like to speak out in situations like this, especially after a big victory when the headlines should be about Real Madrid, but it’s necessary.”

Vinicius had just scored the only goal of the game in the 50th minute when he provoked the ire of Benfica fans and some players, by celebrating in front of the home crowd in Lisbon.

After arguing with Prestianni, Vinicius ran over to Letexier and told the Frenchman – who had booked him for his celebrations – that he had been called “mono”, the Spanish word for monkey, by the Argentine.

Real forward Kylian Mbappe called on Prestianni to be banned. Mbappe said: “We cannot accept there’s a player behaving like this. This guy doesn’t deserve to play in the Champions League.”

Of the incident, Prestianni said: “I want to clarify that at no time did I direct racist insults to Vini Jr, who regrettably misunderstood what he thought he heard.

“I was never racist with anyone and I regret the threats I received from Real Madrid players.

Uefa said on Wednesday it would “investigate allegations of discriminatory behaviour” during Tuesday’s match.”