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Ailsa Cowen, Ben Ramsdale and Grace Wheeler.

  1. 'Let us see how big of a man Pestianni is'

    Thierry Henry
    Former Arsenal forward on CBS

    I can relate to what Vinicius Junior is going through. That happened to me so many times on the field. At times you feel lonely because it's going to be your word against his word, because we don't know what he has said.

    He put his shirt over his mouth. Clearly, already, he looks suspicious because he didn't want people to see what he said.

    Let's see how big of a man Prestianni is – tell us what you said.

    Gianluca Prestianni of SL Benfica seems with Vinicius JuniorGetty Images

  2. 'It is disgusting'

    Real Madrid defender Trent Alexander-Arnold said the alleged abuse of team-mate Vinicius was a "disgrace to football".

    "What has happened is a disgrace to football and overshadowed the performance, as well as an amazing goal," said Alexander-Arnold.

    "Vini has been subject to this a few times throughout his career. To ruin a night like this for our team is a disgrace.

    "There is no place for it in football or society. It is disgusting."

    Trent Alexander-Arnold hugging ViniciusGetty Images

  3. Recap: Mourinho & Benfica criticised over reaction to alleged abuse

    Good afternoon.

    Not the kind of live page we wanted to be bringing you today but one that is important to nonetheless.

    We'll carry on bringing you all the reaction from last night's Champions League tie between Benfica and Real Madrid, where Real Madrid forward Vinicius Junior was on the receiving end of alleged racial abuse.

    Here are the top lines so far:

  4. Get Involved - 'People need to wait until the facts are known'

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    Everyone comments when they have not heard what was said. Mourinho was merely stating Vin Jr there is always drama and he is correct.

    Johan, Southampton

    Right now, it's a 'he said' 'she said' kinda situation, until it's been thoroughly investigated, there should be no lighting of the torches and arming of the pitchforks, there needs to calm and not kneejerk reactionary behaviour.

    Will B, Newcastle

    People need to wait until the facts are known. Right now we have two players saying different things and we don’t know which one is telling the truth. Prestianni has denied the claims so let’s see if he is telling the truth before condemning him.

    Derek, UK

  5. 'He should have a suspension'

    Mikael Silvestre sits on the FIFA Players' Voice Panel

    Mikael Silvestre
    Former Manchester United defender on Sky Sports News

    Our WhatsApp group was on fire last night. We need to sanction this type of behaviour. Whether you put your hands in front of your mouth or covering using your shirt like Prestianni did. We also need to speak with the referees about what they can do. There should have also been an announcement on the big screen in the stadium but I don't think that was the case.

    At least there are witnesses, Kylian Mbappe came forward and said he heard what the player said. So you can at least have testimonies. It's hard, it's physically difficult for the referee to have proof of what is happening for the investigation. To return in seven days (the reverse fixture) and if something is proven to be true, then the player shouldn't be able to play. He should have a suspension, he should go into a vindication programme because this type of behaviour is not possible.

    referee Francois Letexier argues with Gianluca Prestianni of Benfica,Getty Images

  6. 'The fans went against Vinicius'

    BBC 5 Live Breakfast

    Guillem Balague spoke to BBC 5 Live about the on the racist incident at Benfica v Real Madrid match last night: "We will never know exactly what it was because Gianluca Prestianni put his shirt over his mouth.

    "The referee didn't even argue, he crossed his arms [the protocol sign that someone has been racially abused] and he stopped the game.

    "Because the referee had not heard anything, it was down to Vinicius to decide if the game was going to continue, he was approached by his manager and Álvaro Arbeloa said, 'if you want to leave we will all leave with you'.

    "The Benfica manager [José Mourinho] went to Vinicius and said that 'Benfica is not a racist club' and added to the pressure was put on him to decide if the game would continue.

    "The fans went against Vinicius and Mbappé [who started shouting very loudly to make sure the camera caught him saying to Prestianni that he is a racist man.

    "At the end of the game there was a lot of verbal exchanges in the tunnel.

    "UEFA will have to hear from everyone who wants to talk about it and decide what to do next and what kind of punishment, if any he will get.

    "Mourinho was trying to say to the media and Vinicius 'why did you celebrate like that?'. He was sent off for his reacting to the referee and many Real-Madrid fans were disappointed with Mourinho reaction because Vinicius was to blame it seems."

  7. What is the referee protocol?

    The referee signals an X with his arms during the game between Real Madrid and BenficaGetty Images

    Uefa established a three-step racism protocol to handle incidents of discrimination inside stadiums in 2009.

    It is designed to give referees the power to halt or even abandon matches if racist behaviour continues.

    If the referee becomes aware of a racist incident, they will:

    • Stop the match. If the incident involves members of the crowd, an announcement will be made over the public address system calling for any racist behaviour to stop.
    • If it continues, the game is stopped for five to 10 minutes and the players will be taken off the pitch while another announcement is made.
    • If it resumes after the second restart, the referee can abandon the game.

    A match will only be abandoned once the security of the players and public has been assessed. The case is then referred to Uefa's disciplinary authorities.

  8. Get Involved - 'Incredibly tone deaf comments'

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    Mark Clattenburg’s comments just highlight the huge issues we see in the viewpoint on this issue, let alone just the way it is approached in football. Vini Jnr made it hard for the ref? What should he do? Just accept racism and not confront it. Awful!

    Luke, Nottingham

    Is Clattenburg seriously making the ref the victim in all this? Incredibly tone deaf.

    Gary, Walthamstow

    Rubbish from Clattenberg If Vinicius was abused he has the right and responsibility to report it to the referee

    Peter, Birmingham

  9. 'Vinicius has a right to celebrate'

    CBS Football Correspondent, James Benge, on Clattenburg's claims that Vinicius made the situation 'very, very difficult' for the referee:

    "Mark Clattenburg doing his former profession no favours. Vinicius Junior celebrated, as is his right. Nothing Vini could possibly do would merit what he alleges happened to him. If he doesn't want to play then the game needs to stop."

    Vinicius celebratingGetty Images

  10. 'Vinicius made the situation very difficult for the ref'

    Mark Clattenburg
    Former Premier League referee on Amazon Prime

    Once Vinicius Junior has approached the referee, the referee now has to follow the protocol, he has to follow the rules that Uefa have set out when this happens.

    The problem in this situation is that Vinicius Junior has not helped himself. He has made this difficult for the referee.

    He scored a wonderful goal and all he has to do is, yes celebrate, but return back. He has made this situation very, very difficult.

    Vinicius Junior and the referee crossing his armsGetty Images

  11. 'How are we still sitting here talking about racism?'

    Rio Ferdinand
    Former Man Utd defender on Instagram

    Shoutout to Trent and Kylian Mbappé for backing Vinicius Junior last night. How are we still sitting here talking about racism? How are people trying to justify when someone says someone racist? Vini is to blame?

    He should not celebrate like that? How? We cannot accept this. Football is the beautiful game because it is the beautiful game. But this kind of rubbish sets it back so much. The authorities have to do something.

    I can't understand why people are trying to justify someone's stupidness just because another player scored an unbelievable goal, a spectacular goal…

    Trent and Kylian Mbappé for backing Vinicius JuniorGetty Images

  12. 'Racists are above all, cowards' - Vinicius

    After the match, Vinicius released a statement on Instagram condemning the incident. "Racists are, above all, cowards. They need to put their shirts in their mouths to show how weak they are," said Vinicius.

    "But they have the protection of others who, theoretically, have an obligation to punish them. Nothing that happened today is new in my life or in my team's life.

    "I received a yellow card for celebrating a goal. I still don't understand why. On the other hand, it was just a poorly executed protocol that served no purpose." Prestianni denied directing racist abuse towards Vinicius.

    "I want to clarify that at no time did I direct racist insults to Vini Jr, who regrettably misunderstood what he thought he heard," said the 20-year-old.

    "I was never racist with anyone and I regret the threats I received from Real Madrid players."

    Vinicius JuniorGetty Images

  13. Get Involved - 'Benfica statement is appalling'

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    Classless behaviour from Benfica and Prestianni. Benfica's statement is appalling. Highly doubt the Madrid players would react in the manner they did if this wasn't true. Fully supportive of Vini, there is absolutely no place for this in football.

    Joey, MK

  14. 'Terrible statement' - Balague on Benfica statement

    Spanish football journalist Guillem Balague quoted the statement published by Benfica on X, calling it out as "terrible."

    He wrote: "So much to learn still! Terrible statement. Read the comments and see the videos of racist behaviour in the stands not mentioned anywhere by the club."

  15. Get Involved - 'Nothing justifies racist abuse'

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    Quite shocking and ignorant comments from Mourinho at the end of the game. Hopefully he’s had time to reflect and realise nothing justifies racist abuse. What courage from Vini Jnr to play on in those conditions.

    Steve, Hull

  16. 'It was maybe the one time we should not have heard from Mourinho'

    Theo Walcott
    Former Arsenal forward on Amazon Prime

    I am quite calm and composed and I am not someone who gets angry often.

    I love everything Jose Mourinho has done in football but he has made a poor decision. It was maybe the one time we shouldn't have heard from him, the one night he should not have been in front of the cameras.

    Jose MourinhoGetty Images

  17. 'We should never, ever justify racial abuse'

    Clarence Seedorf
    Former Real Madrid midfielder on Amazon Prime

    I think he [Jose Mourinho] is still emotional.

    He's saying it's OK, when Vinicius provokes you, to be racist - and I think that is very wrong.

    We should never, ever justify racial abuse. Vinicius has had enough of that unjustified behaviour from people. I know Mourinho by heart would agree with me but he expressed himself a bit unfortunately.

    ose MourinhoGetty Images

  18. Benfica midfielder Prestianni denies racially abusing Vinicius

    Gianluca Prestianni, 20, denied directing racial abuse to Vinicius Jr in a post on his social media.

    "I want to clarify that at no time did I direct racist insults to Vini Jr, who regrettably misunderstood what he thought he heard," said Prestianni.

    "I was never racist with anyone and I regret the threats I received from Real Madrid players."

    Gianluca Prestianni and ViniciusGetty Images

  19. What did Mourinho say?

    Benfica manager Jose Mourinho was seen speaking with Vinicius after the player took the decision to walk off the pitch following the interaction with Prestianni.

    The Portuguese said in his post-match interview that he was told different things by Vinicius and Prestianni regarding the incident.

    In addition to expressing his belief that Vinicius had been disrespectful with his goal celebration, he pointed to the club's legendary striker Eusebio as proof that Benfica is not a racist club.

    Asked if he felt Vinicius incited the crowd, Mourinho said: "Yes. I believe so.

    "It should be the crazy moment of the game, an amazing goal. Unfortunately [he was] not just happy to score that astonishing goal. When you score a goal like that, you celebrate in a respectful way."

    He added: "I told [Vinicius], when you score a goal like that you just celebrate and walk back. When he was arguing about racism, I told him the biggest person in the history of this club [Eusebio] was black.

    "This club, the last thing that it is, is racist. If in his mind there was something in relation to that, this is Benfica.

    "They [Vinicius and Prestianni] told me different things. But I don't believe in one or another. I want to be an independent."

    Jose Mourinho and ViniciusGetty Images

  20. Benfica statement

    Benfica

    Benfica released a statement at 02:11 GMT and attached a video of the incident taken from the sideline.

    It read:

    "As the images demonstrate, given the distance, the Real Madrid players could not have heard what they claim to have heard."