Benfica fans direct racist gestures at Vinicius as Mourinho comments questioned

Benfica fans were filmed directing racist gestures at Real Madrid forward Vinicius Junior during Tuesday's Champions League clash at the Estadio da Luz. The game was halted for 10 minutes after Vinicius reported alleged racist abuse to the referee following an altercation with Benfica winger Gianluca Prestianni.

Vinicius accused Prestianni of racism and called the Benfica winger a "coward" in a post-match statement. Team-mate Kylian Mbappe said he heard Prestianni call Vinicius a monkey "five times" and urged that the winger be banned from the Champions League; Prestianni has denied the accusations.

Videos of supporters making racist gestures have also circulated online. Benfica manager Jose Mourinho defended his club while questioning Vinicius's celebration, saying: "It should be the crazy moment of the game, an amazing goal...

vinicius junior, real madrid, benfica, jose mourinho, gianluca prestianni, kylian mbappe, champions league, racist gestures, racial abuse, monkey insult