Scandal After Match in Madrid: Nazi Salute, Racism Accusations, and Real's Victory

The match at the Santiago Bernabéu became the stage for unprecedented events that overshadowed the sporting dimension of the Champions League quarterfinal race. The most serious incident involved one of the home fans who, before the match, performed a Nazi salute in front of cameras. The Real Madrid board reacted immediately, initiating the procedure to expel the man from the club's structures. Although it was confirmed that the perpetrator is a club member, no information was provided about his membership tenure, nor were any of his explanations regarding motives for his actions made public. These explanations, however, did not influence the club authorities' decision, which condemned the incident and handed the case over to law enforcement. Simultaneously, a conflict is developing along the Madrid-Lisbon axis regarding alleged racism on the pitch. Portuguese media reported that Gianluca Prestianni allegedly called Vinícius Júnior a „monkey”. Although some sources suggested the player had confessed, Benfica Lisbon issued an official statement categorically denying these reports. The club emphasized that Prestianni is innocent and has fallen victim to a media witch hunt. The atmosphere was so tense that in the Portuguese team's locker room, an altercation occurred when one player asked the Brazilian star for his jersey, which met with the fury of the teammate accused of racism. Since the 1990s, Spanish and Portuguese stadiums have regularly grappled with the problem of radical fan groups, leading to stricter regulations on mass event safety in both countries.Real Madrid's sporting situation is also complicated. Despite the victory, the team must cope without Kylian Mbappé, who is struggling with a left knee injury. Although initially a two-week break was speculated, current diagnoses point to conservative treatment, and the date of the Frenchman's return to the pitch remains unknown. To the squad weaknesses was added the behavior of Dean Huijsen, whose gestures towards fans sparked an additional wave of criticism. In the shadow of these events, Aurélien Tchouaméni described Madrid's advancement as „a victory over racism,” referring to the constant pressure his attacking teammate faces. „C'est une victoire pour tous ceux qui s'opposent au racisme.” (It's a victory for all those who oppose racism.) — Aurélien Tchouaméni

Perspektywy mediów: Liberal media emphasize the systemic problem of racism in Spain and the need for severe penalties for fans and players. Conservative and Portuguese press defend Prestianni, suggesting that Vinícius can be provocative and clubs react too hastily under media pressure.