European football stadiums experienced another stormy night with the theme of “racism”, as Brazilian star Vinicius Junior launched a scathing attack on those he described as “cowards”, after accusing Benfica player, Gianluca Brestiani, of directing racist insults at him during the match between Real Madrid and their Portuguese hosts in the first leg of the Champions League round of 16 play-off.

Details of the incident and the match being stopped

The match, which ended in a 1-0 victory for Real Madrid thanks to a goal by Vinicius himself, was interrupted for more than ten minutes, a first in UEFA's strict implementation of its anti-racism protocol. The incident began when Vinicius approached French referee François Letixsier, complaining that he had been subjected to a racist slur (mono – meaning monkey in Spanish) by Argentine player Prestiani, who had covered Vinicius's mouth with his shirt during the altercation.

Following the match, Vinicius erupted in anger on his Instagram account, saying: “Racists are, above all, cowards. They need to cover their mouths with their shirts to show how weak they are.” He added, criticizing the leniency of the punishments: “But they enjoy the protection of others who are supposed to be responsible for imposing punishment,” emphasizing that what happened should never be tolerated.

A history of conflict with racism

This incident is not an isolated event in the Brazilian star's career, but rather the latest chapter in a long series of abuses he has suffered. The historical context of Vinicius's ordeal stretches back several seasons, most notably the infamous incident at the Mestalla stadium against Valencia in May 2023, which sparked widespread international condemnation. Furthermore, Spanish courts previously handed down suspended prison sentences to Atlético Madrid fans who hung an effigy of the player in an act classified as a hate crime. These accumulated experiences have made Vinicius a global icon in the fight against racism in sports, lending significant weight to his statements and reactions.

Reactions: Between denial and absolute support

In response, Gianluca Prestiani categorically denied the accusations, claiming that Vinicius had misunderstood what he heard. He stated on social media, "I have never been racist, and I apologize for the threats I have received." His club, Benfica, and his coach, José Mourinho, supported him. Mourinho criticized Vinicius's goal celebration in front of the opposing fans, deeming it provocative, and commented, "Something is wrong, because in every stadium Vinicius plays, something always happens.".

On the other side, Real Madrid players rallied behind their teammate. Trent Alexander-Arnold described the incident as "disgusting" and a disgrace to football. Kylian Mbappé called for strict measures, saying, "This player doesn't deserve to play in the Champions League again." Captain Federico Valverde cleverly pointed to the gesture of covering the mouth, interpreting it as evidence of saying something shameful that cannot be uttered aloud.

Expected impact and future of sanctions

This incident is particularly significant given that it occurred in the world's biggest club competition, placing UEFA under immense pressure to take concrete action beyond financial penalties. The recurrence of such incidents threatens the image of European football and negatively impacts the mental health of players, potentially leading to stricter sporting regulations in the near future, including point deductions or exclusion from tournaments, to ensure a clean and hate-free sporting environment.

A sense of curiosity and anticipation has gripped Al-Hilal fans recently regarding the noticeable absence and the underlying reasons for the repeated exclusion of Brazilian star Marcos Leonardo from the starting lineup and coach Simone Inzaghi's calculations. This absence has raised concerns among fans, especially given the fierce competition the "Leader" is engaged in on various domestic and continental fronts, and the team's need for all its professional players.

In this context, well-informed sources within the capital club revealed the true details of this technical decision. The sources confirmed that Marcos Leonardo's exclusion was not due to disciplinary reasons or a sharp decline in performance, but rather stemmed from a carefully considered decision by head coach Simone Inzaghi to implement a special physical and technical rehabilitation program for the player. Leonardo is currently undergoing intensive individual training aimed at raising his physical fitness to peak levels, paving the way for his return to regular and official group training in the coming period.

Reports indicate that Al-Hilal's coaching staff is placing great emphasis on preparing the players for the crucial stages of the season, with Marcus Leonardo scheduled to join his teammates in group training within the next few days. The player will be available for selection and can participate in all upcoming competitions, providing a significant boost to the team's attack at a critical juncture in the season.

This move comes as Al-Hilal prepares for one of the most important matches of the season, facing Al-Ittihad in the highly anticipated Saudi Arabian "Clásico," as part of the 23rd round of the Saudi Professional League. This match is of paramount importance in the title race and is scheduled to take place at 11:00 PM on Friday at the Kingdom Arena, Al-Hilal's new and prestigious home ground.

On the continental level, Al Hilal is enjoying high morale after securing a valuable victory in their last match against Al Wahda of the UAE, in the eighth round of the AFC Champions League, which was also held at the Kingdom Arena. The coaching staff, led by Inzaghi, aims to capitalize on this winning spirit, with the team now at full strength following the return of Leonardo, to continue their march towards titles and fulfill the aspirations of Al Hilal's vast fan base.

Albanian star Mario Mitai, a professional player for Al-Ittihad's first football team, left Saudi Arabia and returned to his home country in the past few hours, at a critical time just before the highly anticipated match against arch-rivals Al-Hilal. This sudden absence comes ahead of the clash between the two giants in the 23rd round of the Saudi Professional League, scheduled to be held at the Kingdom Arena, Al-Hilal's home ground.

In further detail, Al-Ittihad's media center published an official statement on its verified Twitter account (formerly known as "X") explaining the humanitarian circumstances that necessitated the player's travel. The statement read: "Team player Mario Mitai has left for Albania due to the death of his grandmother." The official statement did not specify when the player would return to Jeddah or rejoin the team, leaving room for speculation about his availability for the upcoming match.

Mystery surrounds the Clasico match

As of now, there is no official confirmation regarding Mario Mitai's participation in the highly anticipated derby against Al-Hilal next Friday evening. Time and travel present a significant challenge, as the long journey to and from Albania could impact the player's physical and mental readiness for such a high-intensity and competitive match as the Saudi Arabian derby, which enjoys widespread local and regional following.

The importance of the match and the context of the competition

The clash between Al-Ittihad and Al-Hilal carries immense significance, transcending the mere three points at stake. It represents a historic rivalry between the two giants of Saudi football. This match comes at a time when Al-Ittihad is striving to solidify its position in the Saudi Professional League standings and attempt to halt Al-Hilal's winning streak, especially as the game is being played at the opponent's new and impressive stadium, the Kingdom Arena, adding extra pressure on the Tigers.

Asian morale boost

Meanwhile, Al-Ittihad enters the derby with relatively high morale after their impressive performance in their last outing, where they secured a resounding 4-1 victory over Qatari side Al-Sadd in the AFC Champions League. The Al-Ittihad coaching staff hopes to capitalize on this fighting spirit to compensate for any potential absences, including the possible absence of Mitai, and achieve a positive result against the league leaders.