Benfica have suspended five members over ‘racist’ behaviour that scarred the club’s ill-tempered Champions League clash with Real Madrid at the Estadio da Luz stadium on February 17.
Although disciplinary proceedings are still ongoing, five supporters have had their membership passes provisionally cancelled and risk facing lifelong bans if found guilty of racist behaviour and conduct in the stands.
Social media coverage emerged after the game showing vile scenes where fans appeared to make monkey gestures towards Madrid’s Brazilian winger Vinicius Junior.
The Portuguese club were heavily criticised for their handling of the fallout following allegations of racism made by Vinicius against Benfica’s Argentinian midfielder Gianluca Prestianni in the first leg of the play-off tie that night.
Benfica’s manager Jose Mourinho pointed the finger at Brazilian Vinicius for what he felt was an overly-exuberant goal celebration, suggesting it had riled fans and opponents alike.
The club also tweeted in support of Prestianni and allowed him to travel to Madrid for the second leg of the tie, that Madrid went on to win, despite a provisional one-match UEFA ban.
There will be some relief, then, that they have now acted following social media footage of fans appearing to mimic monkeys, while trying to catch Vinicius’ attention.
Benfica have suspended five fans over ‘racist’ behaviour aimed at Vinicius Junior after last week’s game in Portugal (Pictured: Five fans, not necessarily those banned, goading Vinicius)
The now infamous moment where Gianluca Prestianni says something to Vinicius Jnr (left) from behind his shirt, which the Brazilian insists was racist in nature
‘Benfica reaffirms that it does not tolerate any form of discrimination or racism and will continue to act firmly whenever behaviors that undermine the values of the club, sport, and society are involved,’ the club said in a statement.
The match in Lisbon was stopped for close to 10 minutes after Vinicius Jnr, 25, alleged that Prestianni had racially abused him following the Brazilian’s second-half goal. Referee Francois Letexier signalled the start of FIFA’s racial abuse protocol by crossing his wrists above his head.
Real Madrid team-mate Kylian Mbappe claimed after the match that Prestianni had called Vinicius Jnr a ‘monkey’ five times.
The 20-year-old star has denied using racist language and instead claims he used the homophobic slur ‘maricon’, Spanish for ‘f****t’, in response to being taunted about his height.
Standing at 5ft 5in, Prestianni is among the shortest players in the Champions League and was reported to have said he acted in retaliation after Vinicius referred to him as a dwarf.
Both racist and homophobic abuse are breaches of Article 14 of the UEFA’s disciplinary rules, meaning Prestianni could be set for a lengthy ban regardless of whether his defence is believed.
