Footballers who conceal what they’re saying on the pitch must be banned, claims Stan Collymore.
The previous Liverpool, Newcastle and England striker took to X to have his say after the grim scenes on Tuesday evening in Portugal, when Actual Madrid star accused Benfica participant Gianluca Prestianni of racially insulting him.
Prestianni had pulled his shirt over his mouth when talking to Vinicius Jr, which means TV cameras couldn’t attempt to establish what was stated.
On X, Collymore wrote: ‘The masking of the mouth with a hand or shirt must be banned from professional soccer.
‘If gamers cannot converse ( staff mates or opposition) inside the legal guidelines and spirit of the sport then they need to be sanctioned.
‘No person cares that one participant tells one other to f*** off or two opposition gamers strolling off inform one another there was a s*** choice or are they assembly up on the town later. However hiding homophobic, racist, non secular or another sanctionable communication is not acceptable in any respect.
Vinicius Jr (left) accused Gianluca Prestianni (proper) of racially abusing him on Tuesday
Stan Collymore believes gamers who conceal what they’re saying by masking their mouth must be banned
‘A contemporary pattern which is as a lot about molly coddling males infants as a lot as hiding something that anybody can be curious about.
Time to outlaw it @FIFA, if it’s worthwhile to conceal what you are saying then you definately should not be saying it. Loads of time within the tunnel or dressing room or gamers lounge.’
UEFA has confirmed it should examine ‘allegations of discriminatory behaviour’ after claims of racist abuse geared toward Vinicius, which noticed Actual Madrid’s conflict with Benfica halted for 10 minutes.
The Brazilian has claimed that the Portuguese aspect’s Argentinian midfielder Prestianni racially abused him shortly after he had scored the one purpose of the play-off first leg on 50 minutes amid explosive scenes in Lisbon.
Prestianni, 20, stated his opponent ‘misinterpreted what he thinks he heard’, whereas Kylian Mbappe claimed Prestianni had known as his teammate a ‘monkey’ 5 occasions.
‘A UEFA Ethics and Disciplinary Inspector has been appointed to research allegations of discriminatory behaviour through the UEFA Champions League 2025/2026 Knock-out Play-off between Membership Benfica and Actual Madrid CF on 17 February 2026,’ a UEFA assertion learn.
‘Additional data concerning this matter will likely be made out there sooner or later.’
In a tinderbox night on the Estadio de Luz, the place play was halted for 10 minutes after referee Francois Letexier made a crossed arms gesture to sign reported racial abuse, Jose Mourinho and a member of his Benfica employees have been additionally proven a pink card.
Prestianni denies racially abusing the Brazilian, whereas Kylian Mbappe stated he heard the Benfica participant name Vinicius Jr a ‘monkey’ 5 occasions
Vinicius, who has since branded racists as ‘cowards’ in a press release, had simply scored the opening – and in the end successful – purpose of the sport earlier than being booked by referee Letexier for his dancing celebration which seemingly antagonised the house crowd.
When strolling again to the centre circle along with his team-mates, the 25-year-old was incensed by one thing stated allegedly to him by Argentinian Benfica winger Gianluca Prestianni, who held his shirt over his mouth whereas talking to the Madrid star after his purpose.
Vinicius alleges he was known as a ‘monkey’, however midfielder Aurelien Tchouameni instructed reporters the Benfica participant had as an alternative claimed to have used a homophobic slur.
Whereas Alexander-Arnold stated the scenes have been ‘disgusting’ post-match, Mourinho claimed Vinicius had incited his gamers by celebrating and that the Brazilian ‘was not simply completely happy to attain that astonishing purpose’.
‘I consider (Vinicius incited the gamers and the group),’ Mourinho stated in a post-match interview with Amazon Prime Video.
‘The phrases that Prestianni exchanged with Vinicius, I wish to keep unbiased. I do not wish to say I consider in Prestianni, I do not consider in Vinicius, as a result of they instructed me two utterly various things. I wish to be unbiased and I do not remark about it’
‘I instructed (Vinicius) precisely that. I stated ‘whenever you rating a purpose like that, you simply rejoice and stroll again’ and when he was arguing about racism, I instructed him that the most important particular person within the historical past of this membership (Eusebio) was black.
‘The very last thing this membership is, is racist. So if, in his thoughts, it was one thing in relation to that, that is Benfica.’
Confronted with the truth that Vinicius had been the sufferer of racial abuse previously, Mourinho then stated: ‘There’s something unsuitable as a result of this occurs in each stadium. In a stadium the place Vinicius performs, one thing occurs – all the time.’
UEFA at the moment are investigating the incident that prompted the sport to cease for 10 minutes
Prestianni himself has now given his model of occasions. Taking to Instagram, the 20-year-old stated: ‘I wish to make clear that at no time did I direct racist insults to participant Vinícius Junior, who regrettably misunderstood what he thought he heard.
‘I used to be by no means racist with anybody and I remorse the threats I acquired from Actual Madrid gamers.’
Later, on X, Prestianni questioned what he felt was a subdued preliminary response from Vinicius’s team-mates, given the gravity of the accusation levelled towards him. He additionally defined why he raised his shirt over his mouth.
‘In the event that they hold saying that SUPPOSEDLY I made a racist remark to Vinicius Junior, then why did not any of them react?’ he requested. ‘Accusing somebody of one thing severe is not proper, and even much less so when it isn’t true.
‘And everybody pointing fingers at me for masking up with my shirt once they know that each one soccer gamers cowl their mouths to speak. Do not attempt to make up extra.’
The Madrid star launched his personal assertion on Tuesday evening, wherein he branded racists as being ‘above all, cowards’.
‘They should put their shirts of their mouths to indicate how weak they’re,’ Vinicius’s assertion started.
‘However they’ve the safety of others who, theoretically, have an obligation to punish them.
Actual Madrid’s match towards Benfica was halted after Vinicius Jr was allegedly racially abused
‘Nothing that occurred right this moment is new in my life or in my staff’s life. I acquired a yellow card for celebrating a purpose. I nonetheless do not perceive why.
‘Then again, it was only a poorly executed protocol that served no goal.
‘I do not like to look in conditions like this, particularly after a giant win and when the headlines must be about Actual Madrid, but it surely’s obligatory’.
The Brazilian Soccer Federation has launched a press release condemning ‘one more act of racism’ Vinicius has allegedly acquired.
‘Racism is against the law. It’s unacceptable. It can’t exist in soccer or anyplace else,’ they stated.
‘Vini, you aren’t alone. Your choice to activate the protocol is an instance of braveness and dignity.
‘We’re happy with you. ‘We’ll stay steadfast within the combat towards all types of discrimination. We stand by your aspect. At all times’.
