Uruguayan star Fede Valverde, the midfielder for Real Madrid, broke his silence to reveal details of the altercation that his Brazilian teammate Vinicius Junior experienced during the fiery encounter between the Royal team and their Portuguese counterpart Benfica, in the Champions League, which took place at the home ground of the Portuguese team.

In a press conference following the final whistle, Valverde highlighted the tensions that marred the match, stating that what Vinicius endured went beyond the bounds of fair play. Valverde said, "What happened to Vinicius? We don't know exactly what was said, but according to all the teammates who were close to the incident, the opponent used foul language that shouldn't be uttered on a football pitch. We have fought against racism for a long time, and Vinicius has been at the forefront of this fight. If this situation continues unchecked, it's truly regrettable that the cameras didn't capture the incident clearly.".

A recurring pattern and ongoing suffering

This incident adds to a series of unfortunate events that Brazilian star Vinicius Junior has faced in European stadiums, where he has become a global icon in the fight against racism and discrimination in football in recent years. Valverde's comments are particularly significant because they highlight the "covering the mouth" tactic some players use to hurl insults without being caught by cameras or having their lips read by experts—a behavior Valverde described as proof that "what you're saying isn't true.".

Threatening to withdraw and team unity

Valverde highlighted a crucial point regarding the Real Madrid players' reaction, confirming that leaving the pitch was a viable option due to the seriousness of the situation. He explained, "The team considered leaving the pitch because what happened was extremely serious, and these provocations have happened many times before. At this point, I don't think leaving is an option that aligns with the enjoyment of the football we play for, but one individual spoiled the enjoyment of the match with his behavior. He kept saying many things throughout the game, and unfortunately, no cameras captured it.".

This stance reflects the great solidarity within the Real Madrid dressing room, as Valverde praised his teammates who rushed to defend Vinicius, expressing his pride in his Brazilian teammate who managed to overcome the psychological pressure and move forward in the match despite the provocations.

Focus on performance and results

In closing, Valverde emphasized the importance of separating provocations from the team's performance, praising the defensive and offensive contributions of his attacking duo. He said, "We need to focus on the game we played, and on Vinicius and Kylian Mbappé's performances. They helped us a lot defensively, and now we'll leave with a good result." This statement underscores Real Madrid's determination to continue their Champions League campaign, aiming for titles and refusing to allow external distractions to divert the team's focus from its ultimate goals.

The fiery encounter between Real Madrid and Benfica in the Champions League playoffs witnessed dramatic events that extended beyond the pitch, casting a shadow over the atmosphere at Benfica's stadium. The story began with a typically brilliant performance from Brazilian star Vinicius Junior, who put Real Madrid ahead with a clean goal, further increasing the tension and pressure on the home side.

In an unfortunate turn of events, Vinicius Junior was subjected to verbal harassment by a Benfica player. The exchange between them escalated into an unsportsmanlike manner, including racist remarks. This prompted the Brazilian star to immediately approach the referee to report the opposing player's behavior, as well as the chants from some fans in the stands. The situation necessitated decisive intervention from the refereeing team, who were forced to temporarily halt the match in accordance with established protocols for such incidents to ensure the safety of the players and the integrity of the competition.

The situation didn't end there; it required the immediate intervention of veteran coach José Mourinho, who was at the heart of the events and played a pivotal role in calming things down. Mourinho used his extensive experience and renowned charisma to speak with those involved and help defuse the tension that had gripped the stadium, thus helping to control the fans' chants and restore relative calm to the stands and the pitch.

This incident has reopened the debate surrounding racism in European football stadiums, a topic of which Vinicius Junior has long been a prominent victim and one of the strongest advocates against it in recent years. International and continental federations, most notably UEFA, emphasize the application of strict penalties and immediate measures in the event of such transgressions, ranging from suspending matches to cancelling them if the violations persist, in order to uphold the principles of respect and equality in sport.

At the end of the tense scene, efforts succeeded in resuming the match normally, with the ball once again being passed between the feet of Real Madrid and Benfica players. The Portuguese team attempted to equalize and get back into the game, while Real Madrid sought to protect their valuable away lead. This incident serves as a reminder of the need for everyone – players, coaches, and fans – to unite in rejecting bigotry and racism and to uphold the sportsmanship that characterizes a competition as prestigious as the UEFA Champions League.

Saudi football fans, especially those following the struggle to stay in the Roshan Professional League, will turn their attention on Thursday evening to Al-Hazm Club Stadium in Al-Rass, where Al-Kholoud will host Al-Riyadh in a fiery encounter that leaves no room for a draw, as part of the 23rd round of the competition.

This match takes on paramount importance, transcending its status as a mere league fixture. It comes at a crucial juncture in the competition, with both sides desperately seeking the three points to distance themselves from the looming threat of relegation. The Saudi league this season has witnessed fierce competition not only at the top but also in the mid-table, making every point a lifeline for struggling teams.

Given the recent history of encounters between the two teams, a clear rivalry and back-and-forth battle is evident. Last season saw a series of victories; Al-Riyadh won the first leg 3-1, only for Al-Kholoud to avenge that defeat with a thrilling 3-2 victory in the second leg. In the first leg of this season, Al-Riyadh secured a narrow 1-0 win, giving Al-Kholoud added motivation to seek revenge and level the score in tomorrow's match.

Al-Kholoud enters the match in thirteenth place in the standings with 19 points, accumulated from six wins and one draw, while suffering 14 defeats. The team is experiencing a perplexing period of inconsistency. After a stunning upset victory against Al-Shabab, they suffered a loss to the bottom-ranked team, raising questions about the team's stability and jeopardizing their position in the table. Therefore, the coaching staff and players are striving to regain their footing and reconcile with the fans through this match in Riyadh.

Al-Khulood relies on a squad of distinguished names and foreign professionals to tip the scales in their favor, led by the reliable Argentinian goalkeeper Juan Cusani and his compatriot, striker Ramiro Enrique, in addition to the solid Slovakian defender Norbert Gyumbr. The list also includes Englishman John Buckley, Surinamese defender Shakeel Binas, Comorian Meziani Maoulida, Lithuanian Edgaras Utkus, and Spaniard Iker Kortajarina, alongside the local talent Abdulaziz Al-Aliwa.

In contrast, the situation for the visiting team, Al-Riyadh, is not much better. They languish in 16th place (one of the direct relegation spots) with only 13 points, accumulated from two wins, seven draws, and 12 losses. Despite some positive signs and a relative improvement in their performance in the last round against Al-Khaleej, the team's winless streak continues, placing immense pressure on the players to secure all three points and revive their hopes of remaining in the top flight.

Riyadh, for its part, possesses technically gifted players capable of making a difference, most notably veteran Canadian goalkeeper Milan Borjan, French defender Yoann Barbet, and his compatriot Teddy Oko. The squad also includes Spaniard Poirier, Algerian Victor Lekhal, Senegalese Mamadou Sylla, and the Portuguese duo António Tozé and Leandro Antunes. This match will be a true test of these players' ability to lift the team out of its slump.