Former Premier League official Mark Clattenburg has sparked significant backlash after suggesting that Real Madrid winger Vinicius Junior “made it difficult for the referee” by allegedly antagonizing Benfica supporters before reporting racist abuse. Providing expert analysis for Amazon Prime after Madrid’s 1-0 Champions League victory on Tuesday, Clattenburg argued that the Brazilian’s celebration following his decisive solo goal served as a catalyst for the hostile atmosphere. The former referee’s stance, which appeared to link the player’s conduct to the subsequent abuse from Gianluca Prestianni, has drawn fierce criticism from fans and fellow pundits alike.
The incident occurred at the Estádio da Luz after Vinicius struck the winner, prompting a heated confrontation with Prestianni, who reportedly covered his mouth while directing a slur at the winger. While Vinicius immediately activated the official protocol by informing the match official of the racial comments, Clattenburg focused on the “difficulty” this placed on the referee. He suggested that the forward should have simply returned to his half rather than lingering in front of the home crowd, a perspective that many interpret as shifting the blame onto the victim of the abuse.
“What’s gone on is there have been words said between the players,” Clattenburg said. “Vinicius Junior is not happy with what’s been said. He’s informed the referee of what’s been said and the referee is now following the protocol of a racial comment that has been made. He will now make sure that this has been reported. That’s the difficult thing is that once Vinicius Junior has approached the referee, the referee now has to follow the protocol. He has to follow the rules that UEFA have set out when this happens. The problem in this situation is he’s made it difficult for the referee. All he has to do is, yes, celebrate, but then turn back and he’s made it very difficult.”
Former England captain Alan Shearer led the rebuttal, firmly challenging Clattenburg’s narrative during the broadcast. Shearer insisted that regardless of how long a player celebrates or how much they might “antagonize” a crowd, there is no justifiable excuse for racial insults in the sport. The exchange highlighted a growing divide in how the footballing community views the responsibility of officials and players when confronting discriminatory behavior on the pitch.
“That doesn’t excuse whatever has been said to him,” Shearer countered. “There’s no doubt he antagonised the crowd with his celebration and he stood there for long enough. But we don’t know what has been said to him.”
As UEFA begins an official investigation into the events in Lisbon, the debate surrounding Clattenburg’s comments continues to trend online. Supporters of Vinicius have labeled the analysis “victim-blaming,” while Real Madrid manager Álvaro Arbeloa confirmed the club fully supports their player’s decision to report the abuse. With the return leg at the Santiago Bernabéu looming, the spotlight remains firmly on how football’s governing bodies will protect players who choose to speak out against racism.
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