Mbappe calls for Prestianni ban over alleged racist slur at Vinicius

LISBON, Feb 18 : Real Madrid forward Kylian Mbappe said Benfica's Gianluca Prestianni should be banned from the Champions League after the Argentine was accused of directing a racist slur at Vinicius Jr during the Spanish side's 1-0 playoff first-leg win on Tuesday.

The incident occurred shortly after Vinicius had curled Real into the lead five minutes into the second half in Lisbon. 

Television pictures showed the Argentine winger covering his mouth with his shirt before making a comment that Vinicius and nearby teammates interpreted as a racial slur against the 25-year-old, with referee Francois Letexier halting the match for 11 minutes after activating FIFA's anti-racism protocols.

The atmosphere grew hostile after play resumed, with Vinicius and Mbappe loudly booed whenever they touched the ball. Broadcast footage appeared to show an outraged Mbappe calling Prestianni "a bloody racist" to his face.

Real's French midfielder Aurelien Tchouameni told reporters he heard Prestianni direct a racial slur at Vinicius several times.

Mbappe told reporters he heard Prestianni direct the same racist remark at Vinicius several times and that he had been prepared to leave the pitch but was persuaded by Vinicius to continue playing.

"Sporting matters ceased to be important tonight. This is the Champions League, the most important football competition in the world, and we cannot ignore what happened," Mbappe told reporters.

"This is the Champions League and we have to set an example for all the children watching us at home. What happened today is the kind of thing we cannot accept because the world is watching us. When someone behaves like this (like Prestianni), we have to speak out and denounce it. I have nothing against Benfica, the