Real Madrid fans reveal three-word tifo in support of Vinicius Junior

The build-up to Real Madrid’s Champions League second leg against Benfica was consumed by the claims of racism against Gianluca Prestianni, who is alleged to have racially abused Vinícius Júnior in the first leg.

Ahead of kick-off in Wednesday’s second leg, Real Madrid fans revealed a three-word tifo in support of Vinicius. The banner read ‘No al racismo,’ or ‘No to racism.’

Prestianni has been hit with a provisional one-game ban from UEFA, ruling him out of the return game against Real Madrid. Benfica had launched a late appeal to the decision from UEFA’s Control, Ethics and Disciplinary Body but it was quickly dismissed.

Although Prestianni denies that he used racist language against Vinicius he clearly used his jersey to obscure what he was saying to Vinicius. Since the incident, Prestianni has claimed that he used a homophobic, not racist, slur when talking to Vinicius.

The first leg at the Estadio da Luz was delayed for around ten minutes after Vinicius’ report of racism led to the referee enacting UEFA’s anti-racism protocol. Teammate Kylian Mbappé spoke to reporters after the game and insisted that he had heard Prestianni calling Vinicius a ‘monkey’ five times, and that some Benfica players had heard it too.

For now, the investigation against Prestianni remains unresolved. As a club, Madrid are insistent in their support of Vinicius and the Bernabéu faithful clearly feel the same way.

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