Benfica legend Luisao faces racist backlash after defending Vinicius Jr
Former Benfica captain Luisao reveals he's been called 'monkey' and 'Judas' on social media after criticising Prestianni and supporting Vinicius Jr in racism row.
A Benfica icon has found himself on the receiving end of vile racist abuse after standing up for Vinicius Jr in the latest racism storm to hit Spanish football.
Luisao takes a stand
Luisao, the Brazilian defender who captained Benfica for 15 seasons, has publicly condemned Prestianni after the Argentine was accused of racist abuse towards Real Madrid’s Vinicius Jr. The 45-year-old former centre-back, now working as a pundit for ESPN Brasil, didn’t mince his words when addressing the situation.
“This shirt is very big, I love Benfica; it’s my second skin,” Luisao stated, clearly pained by the association of racism with his beloved club. He dismissed Prestianni’s excuses as lies that only made the situation worse.
Facing the backlash
After taking this principled stance, Luisao revealed he’s been subjected to horrific abuse himself:
“I’ve been insulted on social media, called a monkey, Judas, and told I would never set foot in Benfica’s stadium again,” the Brazilian disclosed.
Absolutely shocking behaviour from so-called fans. Talk about cutting off your nose to spite your face – attacking a club legend for simply standing against racism.
Vinicius as a role model
Despite the backlash, Luisao doubled down on his support for Vinicius Jr, describing the Madrid winger as “a hero and a role model in the fight against prejudice… against racism.”
The former defender expressed his profound sadness at the situation, particularly that such abuse continues in European football, which should be setting standards rather than perpetuating prejudice.
“It hurts deeply, you feel it without being able to do anything, without being able to act,” he explained, calling for Europe to become a genuine reference point in the fight against racism.
Standing firm
Luisao made it crystal clear that his criticism of Prestianni doesn’t diminish his love for Benfica, emphasizing that “Benfica’s shirt is my second skin!”
The Brazilian’s principled stance highlights how the fight against racism requires courage, especially when it means challenging those within your own club’s community. Proper respect due to the man for not taking the easy way out.