Former Premier League referee criticized for comments on Vinicius

Mark Clattenburg’s remarks regarding the incident involving Vinicius Junior have sparked intense controversy among European football fans.

The event took place during the Champions League playoff between Benfica and Real Madrid, when the match was unexpectedly paused for nearly 10 minutes due to allegations of racial abuse aimed at the Brazilian star.

The turning point of the match came immediately after halftime. Vinicius Junior scored a stunning goal with a curling shot that hit the top corner of the net. After scoring, the 2000-born player celebrated with his usual dance by the corner flag. However, he was quickly shown a yellow card by referee Francois Letexier for what was deemed an excessive celebration.

Tensions escalated when Vinicius Jr reactedby claiming he had been subjected to racist remarks from the stands. In response, referee Letexier activated UEFA’s anti-racism protocol. Real Madrid players briefly left the field before the match resumed.

While the situation was still sensitive, Mark Clattenburg, a former Premier League referee, expressed his opinion on live television. “As a referee, I have encountered situations like this where a player reports racist comments during a match. All the referee can do is file a report. Then UEFA reviews it. For the referee, it’s a very difficult situation.”- the former Premier League official shared on TNT broadcast.

However, what angered the public was Clattenburg’s implication that Vinicius reporting the racist behavior complicated the referee’s task. On social media platform X, many criticized the statement as lacking empathy and underestimating the seriousness of racism in football.

User AdamJoseph wrote: “Mark Clattenburg, please be sensible. He can celebrate in front of the crowd after scoring. There’s nothing wrong with that. That in no way justifies or excuses the alleged racist behavior. This shouldn’t even need to be said.”

AlexisIsKavkas commented: “Clattenburg’s remarks on TNT are truly shameful. TNT should mute him; he’s digging his own hole and failing to grasp the severity of what was said to Vini.”

MikeHal08477906 shared: “Honestly, I don’t think Mark Clattenburg will be invited back on air after his performance regarding Vini Jr. I can sense Alan Shearer’s discomfort through the TV and wonder if he’s telling the director to mute Clattenburg.”

This is not the first time Vinicius Jr has been targeted by discriminatory acts. The Real Madrid star has repeatedly spoken out about being abused at stadiums in Spain. Therefore, this incident raises further questions about UEFA’s effectiveness in enforcing anti-racism measures and the responsibilities of all involved parties.