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Fans hit out at Benfica for ‘baseless denial’ of Real Madrid’s racism accusation

Real Madrid's Vinicius Jr alleged he was racially abused by Benfica's Gianluca Prestianni during Tuesday’s Champions League match, leading to the activation of Uefa's three-step racism protocol.
Vinicius's Real Madrid teammates, including Kylian Mbappe, publicly supported his claim, stating they heard Prestianni direct racist remarks, while Prestianni himself denied the allegations, attributing them to misinterpretation.
Benfica drew widespread criticism for a social media post that dismissed the testimonies of Real Madrid players, arguing that the distance between the players made it impossible for them to have heard the alleged abuse.
The club's post, which was not replicated on their official English X account, sparked significant backlash, with one fan stating it was a “baseless denial”, while another supporter claimed club legend “Eusebio’s face would fall from shame if he saw what you’ve turned Benfica into”.
The controversy was further fuelled by earlier comments from Benfica manager Jose Mourinho, who appeared to suggest Vinicius had provoked the abuse, adding to the criticism directed at the club.