Spanish Journalist Proposes Radical Solution to Vinicius Jr Racism Controversy
A prominent Spanish journalist has suggested a controversial permanent solution to address the recurring racial abuse targeting Brazilian winger Vinicius Junior, calling for the prohibition of his celebratory dances across all football competitions.
UEFA Champions League Incident Sparks Controversy
The proposal emerged following a heated first-leg UEFA Champions League encounter between Benfica and Real Madrid at Estadio da Luz in Lisbon. During the match, Vinicius Junior scored a crucial 50th-minute goal that gave Real Madrid the advantage, celebrating with his signature Samba dance at the corner flag.
This celebration reportedly provoked a confrontation with Benfica winger Gianluca Prestianni, who approached the Real Madrid star, covered his mouth, and allegedly uttered offensive remarks. Vinicius immediately reported the incident to referee Francois Letexier as potential racial abuse, leading to a 10-minute stoppage in play.
Journalist's Controversial Proposal
Respected Spanish journalist Manuel Jabois has now suggested that Vinicius Junior should cease celebrating his goals entirely as a solution to the ongoing controversies. According to reports from Topskills Sports UK, Jabois stated that even France international Kylian Mbappe supported this position regarding the Benfica match incident.
"The solution is to ban Vinicius from celebrating goals," Jabois asserted. "Kylian Mbappe is supporting what Prestianni didn't say during the tense match between Real Madrid and Benfica."
Investigation and Potential Consequences
Following the match, UEFA launched an investigation into the incident, with Prestianni providing testimony to investigators. The 20-year-old Argentine winger reportedly claimed he used a different offensive expression—an anti-gay slur in Spanish—rather than racial abuse, according to Daily Mail sources.
Under Article 14 of UEFA's disciplinary code, both racist and anti-gay insults carry identical sanctions, meaning Prestianni could face a 10-match suspension if found guilty of either offense.
Public Reaction to the Proposal
The suggestion to ban Vinicius Junior's celebrations has sparked significant backlash on social media platforms. One user, @LcBed17, commented: "Imagine football without celebrations—it's like a planet without water. What meaning would it even have? You score a goal in the World Cup final in the 90th minute and you're forbidden from celebrating. The emotion could completely overwhelm you."
Another user added: "What the journalist is saying is that we might as well create football for robots if, when I score a goal, I'm not allowed to celebrate it."
Some supporters have called for stronger action against the journalist himself, with @Passioncrypto1 stating: "Real Madrid and Vini Jr. and UEFA should sue that journalist and ban him from attending football matches."
Broader Context of Racial Abuse in Football
This incident represents another chapter in the ongoing challenges Vinicius Junior has faced since joining Real Madrid in 2018. The Brazilian winger has been subjected to racial abuse multiple times throughout his career in Spain, with this latest controversy occurring despite increased efforts to combat discrimination in football.
The match concluded with additional tension as Benfica fans threw empty bottles at Vinicius Junior and other Real Madrid players, highlighting the volatile atmosphere surrounding these incidents.
As UEFA continues its investigation, the football community remains divided on appropriate responses to racial abuse, with some advocating for stronger penalties against perpetrators while others question proposals that would limit players' expressions of joy and cultural identity during matches.
