INFANTINO’S STANCE: FIFA PRESIDENT DEMANDS "TOUGH CONSEQUENCES" FOR PRESTIANNI IF FOUND GUILTY
UEFA investigates racism in Real Madrid vs Benfica. Discover why Infantino is "shocked" and Vinicius Jr is demanding justice.
FIFA president Gianni Infantino says he’s “shocked and saddened” by the reports of racism during the Real Madrid vs. Benfica match.
UEFA kicked off an investigation after Vinicius Jr. accused Benfica’s Gianluca Prestianni of using racist language against him. The Champions League match stopped for about 10 minutes; referee Francois Letexier paused play right after Vinicius put Real Madrid ahead, and both teams walked off.
Prestianni and Benfica denied the accusations, but UEFA plans to review video footage and talk to both players as part of their investigation.
Infantino insists anyone responsible should be punished and face tough consequences if found guilty. “I was shocked and saddened to see what happened to Vinícius Júnior during the Champions League match between Benfica and Real Madrid,” he said. “Racism doesn’t belong in football or anywhere else. We need everyone involved to step up and hold people accountable.
“At FIFA, we’re working through the Global Stand Against Racism and the Players’ Voice Panel to make sure players, officials, and fans get the respect and protection they deserve. When something like this happens, we take action.
“I want to thank referee François Letexier for using the anti-racism protocol and stopping the game. That’s exactly what needs to happen.
“FIFA and football stand with victims of racism and any kind of discrimination. I’ll keep repeating it: No to racism. No to discrimination.”
Vinicius Jr. also spoke out online, calling racists “cowards” and pointing out he’s dealt with this throughout his career.
“Racists are, above all, cowards. They have to cover their faces to show how weak they are,” he wrote. “But the problem is, they’re protected by people who should be punishing them. Nothing that happened today is new for my team or for me.
“I got a yellow card for celebrating a goal. I still don’t get why. Meanwhile, the so-called protocol was just poorly handled and didn’t help at all.”
MARSEILLE MELTDOWN: WHY MEDHI BENATIA QUIT AFTER A BITTER MASON GREENWOOD FALLOUT
Marseille meltdown: Medhi Benatia resigns as Sporting Director after clashes with Mason Greenwood. Get the latest on De Zerbi’s exit.
Marseille’s sporting director, Medhi Benatia, has quit his job after reports of friction with Mason Greenwood, the former Manchester United striker.
It’s a tough time for the club. Benatia’s exit comes with pressure piling up; Marseille’s going through a rough patch that also saw Roberto De Zerbi walk out. De Zerbi left after that brutal 5-0 defeat to Paris Saint-Germain. The team are sitting in fourth, and they just missed out on the next round of the Champions League in dramatic fashion.
Benatia, who used to play for Morocco and had a solid career with Bayern Munich, Roma, and Juventus, confirmed he’s stepping down. In his statement, he didn’t hold back: “Since I got here, I’ve poured my heart into this job with one goal: getting Marseille back where it belongs. I know this club inside out. I understand what it asks of you and the passion behind it.”
He tried to keep things positive: “We’re still in the fight. Making the Champions League is within reach, and we’re still gunning for the Coupe de France. Even with the setbacks and bad luck, the project’s still moving forward on the pitch. But I can’t ignore what’s happening around us.”
Benatia pointed to growing frustration and a communication breakdown: “In Marseille, results speak for themselves. You know I don’t sugarcoat things. With all the tension in management, I’ve handed in my resignation because, to me, the club always comes first. I don’t want to be an obstacle or a burden.”
He finished with a note of regret: “I did everything I could, but I couldn’t calm things down around the team even though I really believe they can hit their targets.”
Apparently, Benatia and Greenwood just didn’t get along. Greenwood’s been crucial for Marseille since joining in 2024, and while De Zerbi backed him publicly, things between Benatia and Greenwood reportedly got icy. L’Equipe claimed the two barely spoke, and Benatia didn’t hide his criticism on or off the field.
Some say Benatia got fed up with Greenwood ignoring commercial duties last summer and not caring about the fallout. Now De Zerbi’s on the market, a familiar name for clubs like Manchester United and Tottenham, both hunting for new managers.
De Zerbi’s already been linked to United before. After his stint at Brighton, he was apparently considered for the Old Trafford job before they stuck with Erik ten Hag.
ARRESTS AT THE MKM: WHY POLICE INTERVENED DURING HULL CITY’S FA CUP DEFEAT
Police made arrests at the MKM Stadium as Chelsea beat Hull 4-0. Read the full report on Pedro Neto's hat-trick and the fan fallout.
Hull City say police made arrests after fans started up discriminatory chants during their 4-0 FA Cup loss to Chelsea on Friday night. Early in the game, the stadium’s PA system cut in with a warning: stop the chanting, or face arrest. Stewards and police didn’t mess around in the second half; the club announced they’d actually detained some supporters.
The chant targeted Chelsea and was homophobic. It’s not the first time this kind of thing has happened. Back in 2022, the Crown Prosecution Service made it clear that a certain lyric in the chant is a homophobic slur, and using it can land you in legal trouble. Just ask Paul Boardman, a Liverpool fan who got slapped with a Wembley ban and a £500 fine for shouting it at a train station.
Meanwhile, the game itself got away from Hull. Chelsea rolled over them, with Pedro Neto bagging a hat-trick. Hull boss Sergej Jakirovic still found a few positives, though. He liked the team’s defensive setup and thought they could’ve used their counterattacks better. “We deserved at least one goal,” he said, “but if we play like this, we’ll be in a good spot in the Championship.” He’s already thinking ahead to the next match against QPR.
On the other side, Chelsea manager Liam Rosenior was back at the MKM Stadium, his old stomping ground. He was buzzing about his team’s attitude and effort, especially in the first half. “Hull are flying in the Championship, and I hope they make the Premier League,” he said. “But our mentality and quality tonight made the difference.” He singled out Pedro Neto for his work rate and finishing, but really, he seemed proud of the whole squad. “Everyone put in a shift. The mentality was spot on.”
The night was extra special for Rosenior. He had more than 20 family members in the stands and got warm applause from both sets of fans. “This club means a lot to my family and me,” he said. “I really appreciate the welcome. It was a good night all around.”