Trent Alexander-Arnold has delivered a strong condemnation of the alleged racist abuse directed at Real Madrid teammate Vinicius Junior during the Champions League clash against Benfica this week.
The Brazilian winger of Cameroonian descent was booked for his goal celebration before claiming he was racially abused by Benfica’s Gianluca Prestianni, prompting a 10-minute stoppage under UEFA protocols as officials attempted to manage the escalating situation.
Speaking to Amazon Prime after the game, Alexander-Arnold described the incident as “a disgrace to football,” emphasizing the broader impact on both players and the integrity of the sport.
“Vini’s been subjected to this a few times throughout his career and for it to happen tonight and ruin the night for us as a team is a disgrace. Like I said, it’s a disgrace to football. There’s no place for it in football or society. It’s disgusting,” he said.
Trent highlighted how such incidents diminish the enjoyment of the game, saying: “It’s upsetting. We as people, we come here to do a job, we enjoy what we do. When something like that happens, it takes the fun out of the game and ruins the night for all of us. We stick together as a team, we dug deep and got the win. Most of all, I think we’re all proud of the way we handled it.”
In response, Prestianni posted a statement in Portuguese on Instagram, later shared by Benfica’s official channels, denying any racist intent. “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,” he wrote.
UEFA officials are now investigating the exchange as they attempt to determine exactly what was said during the controversial incident.
While Real Madrid secured a vital first-leg win in Lisbon, the focus has inevitably shifted to the ongoing investigation, highlighting how moments of brilliance on the pitch can be overshadowed by unacceptable behavior off it.
