Arbeloa stands firm with Vini Jr after alleged racial abuse in Benfica clash

Real Madrid Castilla boss Álvaro Arbeloa has made it crystal clear where his loyalties lie after an incident involving Vinicius Jr during Madrid’s 1-0 Champions League play-in victory at Benfica.

Solidarity with Vinicius

Following allegations of racial abuse directed at the Brazilian star by a Benfica player, Arbeloa revealed he gave Vinicius the power to decide whether the team should continue playing.

“I asked Vini if he wanted to continue,” Arbeloa explained in his post-match comments. “We’re always by his side. We would have done whatever Vini decided.”

The former Madrid defender was adamant about his stance on racism, stating that tolerance for such behavior should be absolute zero. When pressed about what exactly occurred, Arbeloa repeatedly directed journalists to question the Benfica player involved rather than putting the onus on the victim.

Referee response

According to Arbeloa, the match official claimed not to have heard any offensive remarks during the incident. This continues a frustrating pattern for Vinicius, who has faced similar situations throughout his career in Spain.

When asked about Mourinho’s potential reaction, Arbeloa expressed confidence that his former manager would condemn any racist behavior: “I’m sure when he knows what his player said, he won’t agree with it. These things cannot be allowed.”

Solid performance

Beyond the controversy, Arbeloa was pleased with his team’s display in Lisbon:

• Praised Tchouaméni as “spectacular” following several strong performances
• Felt Madrid deserved more goals than the solitary strike they managed
• Emphasized the importance of defensive solidity and consistency

Despite taking a lead back to the Bernabéu, Arbeloa refused to consider the tie settled: “I won’t make the mistake of considering a team coached by Mourinho dead, especially with just a 1-0 lead. We still need 90 minutes of very good football.”