JAKARTA - Kylian Mbappe demands that action be taken against Benfica's Gianluca Prestianni, accusing the Argentine midfielder of racially abusing Vinicius Junior in the first leg of the Champions League playoff round on Wednesday, February 18, 2026, early morning WIB.
Vinicius claimed Prestianni made the racial abuse shortly after the Brazilian scored the winning goal in the 50th minute, which led to the match in Lisbon being halted for 10 minutes.
Prestianni, 20, denied Vinicius' claims on social media by stating that the Brazilian player had misinterpreted what he had heard.
The Argentine faces a potential 10-match ban if found guilty of racial abuse under UEFA's Disciplinary Code.
The European Football Federation said it had appointed a special investigator to collect evidence.
Mbappe defended Vinicius after the match when interviewed by Spanish TVE.
"There was a Benfica player number 25, I don't want to say his name because he doesn't deserve to be mentioned, who started talking rudely."
"Then he lifted his shirt up here (covering his mouth) to say that Vini is a monkey five times. I heard it. There was a Benfica player who also heard it," said Mbappe.
Benfica argued that the Real Madrid player could not have heard the alleged racist abuse because of the noise in the stadium and the distance between players.
Only, the statement made the Real Madrid players even more angry.
"I have a lot of respect for Benfica, their coach (Jose Mourinho), one of the best in history, who is part of Real Madrid's history."
"However, this player (Prestianni) does not deserve to play in this event. We have to set the best example for young players."
"If we let this happen, then the values of football will mean nothing, everything we believe in will be in vain. We have to do something," said Mbappe.
Meanwhile, Benfica manager Mourinho criticized Vinicius for his goal celebration, which was considered a provocation against the home fans.
Vinicius celebrated the only goal of the game by dancing near the corner flag, before exchanging words with several Benfica players including Prestianni.
The celebration was also supported by Mbappe who wanted Vinicius to silence many of the mouths.
"(Dance) Vinicius and never stop. They will never tell us what we should do or not," Mbappe wrote on X.
Vinicius has often been the target of racist abuse by opposing fans since arriving in Spain from Brazil in 2018, with some perpetrators having been charged and convicted in Spanish courts.
"This is not the first time Vini has experienced a case like this. I really feel sad for him."
"There are always people who defend (the perpetrator of the harassment) by saying that he (Vini) speaks, that he provokes. Has Vini ever provoked in his career? Maybe."
"Has he ever done bad things in his career? Maybe. But he would never deserve this."
"I don't understand how anyone can tell me that he deserves this."
"They are people who have never experienced or will never experience this. That's why they talk like that."
"I would never think that there is a human being who deserves this kind of treatment," Mbappe said.
Support for Vini also came from Kick It Out. They issued a strong rebuke to Mourinho for diverting attention from the alleged racism.
"When someone reports discrimination in football, or anywhere, the main priority is that they are heard and feel supported."
"Focusing on Vinicius Jr's goal celebration or the club's history, instead of acknowledging the report, is a form of psychological manipulation."
"This approach not only harms the individuals affected, but also sends the wrong message to others around the world who may be in a similar situation."
"Leaders in football have an important role in setting standards. Moments like this require responsible leadership that reinforces respect, inclusion, and accountability."
"We look forward to a thorough investigation into this incident, with appropriate accountability in relation to its findings," Kick It Out said in a statement.
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