Arbeloa: "There Must Be No Tolerance for Racism; If Vinicius Had Decided to Leave the Pitch, We Would Have Followed Him"

Real Madrid coach Álvaro Arbeloa confirmed that his Brazilian player, Vinicius Junior, was fine after the incidents during the match against Benfica, emphasizing the necessity of combating such behavior within football stadiums.

Speaking to the press after the game, Arbeloa stated: "Vini is fine and calm. This is something no one likes, and the Benfica player should be asked about what he said." The Real Madrid coach added: "It's something we must eradicate from the world of football, and if the players aren't the ones to put a stop to it, it will be very difficult."

He continued: "There must be no tolerance for racism. This cannot be happening in 2026. It's a disgrace."

Arbeloa further added: "We stand behind Vinicius 100%, and we left the decision to continue playing to him. If he had decided to leave the pitch, we would have followed him. I believe him, and I will never doubt what he said. He is a fighter, and unfortunately, he has experienced such situations before. He was born to be a warrior and will always remain one, and we will continue to support him always."

Arbeloa's comments came after Real Madrid's one-nil victory over Benfica in the first leg of the UEFA Champions League playoff qualifying for the round of 16.

The match saw a stoppage of approximately ten minutes following a controversial incident, after Vinicius was involved in an altercation with Gianluca Prestianni. The Brazilian player quickly approached the referee before play resumed, asserting that he had been subjected to racial abuse, which added further controversy to the encounter that ended with the Royal club's away victory (0-1).