Real Madrid’s Racism Row: Mbappé Calls for Action Over Prestianni Incident vs Benfica

In a dramatic and deeply troubling moment in European football, Kylian Mbappé has called for a Champions League ban for Benfica’s Gianluca Prestianni after the Argentine winger was accused of directing a racist insult at his Vinícius Júnior during Real Madrid’s 1-0 victory over Benfica in the first leg of their UEFA Champions League playoff tie in Lisbon. The incident has overshadowed the game, reigniting long-standing concerns about racism in football and prompting widespread debate about accountability and sanctioning in the sport.

The controversy unfolded shortly after the Brazilian forward Vinícius Jr. curled Real into the lead in the second half. As he celebrated, television footage appeared to show Prestianni covering his mouth with his shirt and making a comment that Vinícius and several Real teammates interpreted as a racial slur, allegedly calling him a “monkey.”

Referee François Letexier halted the match for around 11 minutes after activating FIFA’s anti-racism protocols, an extraordinary step that underscored the seriousness of the alleged abuse. The game eventually resumed, but the atmosphere grew tense and hostile, with both Vinícius and Mbappé being loudly booed by the home crowd whenever they touched the ball.

Following the match, Mbappé didn’t mince his words. Speaking to reporters, the French star said he had personally heard Prestianni make the same racist remark several times and insisted the Argentine “doesn’t deserve to play in the Champions League anymore.” Mbappé stressed that the incident was bigger than football, emphasizing the need for the sport to take a firm stand against racism and set a strong example for young fans watching worldwide.

Prestianni has denied the allegation, stating on social media that Vinícius “misheard” him and claiming he had never been racist toward anyone. He also said that he regretted the threats he received from Real Madrid players following the incident. This conflicting account, a denial from Prestianni and a vehement accusation from Mbappé and others, highlights the challenges in adjudicating incidents that occur off the ball and often without clear audio evidence.

Vinícius, meanwhile, took to social media to express his frustration and decry racism more broadly, calling racists “cowards” who hide behind their shirts to cover their words. The Brazilian noted that such abuse is sadly not new in his career, citing multiple past incidents of racist behaviour he has endured in Spain since joining Real Madrid.

Benfica manager José Mourinho maintained a more neutral stance in press comments, acknowledging the differing versions of events between Vinícius and Prestianni while refraining from outright condemnation of either party.

The fallout from this incident could reverberate beyond just this one match. With UEFA’s anti-racism regulations in place, there are expectations that the governing body will conduct a thorough investigation and potentially impose sanctions. Mbappé has been vocal in urging UEFA to take decisive action, arguing that failure to do so would weaken the sport’s stance against discrimination.

The second leg of the tie at the Santiago Bernabéu next week will take place under intense scrutiny, with both clubs and supporters keen to avoid a repeat of the controversy. But regardless of the result on the pitch, the incident has sparked a renewed debate on how European football confronts racism and the responsibilities of players, clubs, and governing bodies in stamping it out once and for all.