Former referee, Mark Clattenburg has blamed Real Madrid Vinicius Junior for goading Benfica fans and ‘making it difficult for the referee’ after the player registered his complaint to the referee on racist comments.
The referee provided his ‘expert’ analysis on Amazon Prime after Los Blancos beat Benfica, coached by their former manager, 1-0 in Portugal on Tuesday night.
He believed that Vinicius’ choice of celebrating his solo effort that gave the visitors the victory triggered the racist comment by Gianluca Prestianni but his position has been met with some criticism on social media.
Also, a former Premier League star, Alan Shearer, challenged the former referee’s decision, insisting that there should be no excuse for racial abuse in football.
“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.’
Ex-England striker Alan Shearer appeared to take umbrage with Clattenburg’s comments, chiming in: ‘That doesn’t excuse whatever has been said to him.
‘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.’
