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Real Madrid clash with Benfica delayed as Vinicius Junior issues complaint | Football
Real Madrid’s Champions League clash with Benfica descended into chaos at the start of the second half following a heated verbal exchange involving an irate Vinicius Junior and Gianluca Prestianni.
Vinicius Junior brought tonight’s play-off first leg to life with a piece of individual brilliance to open the scoring five minutes after the restart at Lisbon’s Estadio da Luz.
The Brazilian celebrated the wonder strike by dancing directly in front of Benfica’s home fans behind the goal – a reaction which immediately drew the ire of Jose Mourinho’s players.
Referee Francois Letexier showed Vinicius Junior a yellow card for his part in antagonising Benfica’s supporters by the corner flag, many of whom responded by throwing missiles at the 25-year-old forward.
There was a delay of more than nine minutes as both sets of players clashed on the pitch.
However, what at first seemed innocuous soon turned sinister, with Vinicius Junior issuing a complaint to the officials about something Benfica winger Prestianni had allegedly said in the middle of the melee.
Replays of the incident showed Prestianni raising his shirt over his mouth during the fracas, but it was unclear what – if anything – the Argentina international had said to draw such an apoplectic reaction from Vinicius Junior.
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There were whistles in the crowd as Prestianni appeared to profess his innocence, with former Premier League referee Mark Clattenburg saying on Amazon Prime’s live commentary: ‘What’s gone on is there have been words said between the players.
‘Vinicius Junior is not happy with what’s been said. He’s informed the referee of what’s been said and the referee is now following the protocol of a racial comment that has been made.
‘He will now make sure that this has been reported.’
More to follow.
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