Luisão hits out again at Benfica fans who abused him | OneFootball

Luisão returned this Friday to social media to speak out about the incident that marked the match between Benfica and Real Madrid, involving Vinícius Júnior and Gianluca Prestianni. In a post on Instagram, the former Benfica captain was categorical.

"Racism has no club, no jersey, no side. And it cannot be relativized. I spent a large part of my life at Benfica. I grew as a player, as a man, and as a captain (...) Benfica is part of my story. And it is precisely because of this, and not despite it, that I feel obliged to speak out. Dancing is not disrespect, it is expression," he added.

Luisão emphasized that nothing can justify racist insults: "What cannot be acceptable is turning a celebration into a justification for racist abuse. Nothing justifies that. Not provocation, not rivalry, not the heat of the game. A stadium is not a place without values. I was also the target of abuse, including racist abuse, after I spoke out. It hurts, but it won’t make me back down."

Finally, he left a message of love for the club and a call for collective reflection: "I will never be silent in the face of discrimination by a minority that does not represent the club I love. Football is passion and intensity. But above all, it is humanity. And humanity does not allow racism. May we come out of this episode better. As a club, as fans, as a society. Because matches pass. Trophies pass. But character and values remain," he wrote.

Representing the Sacred Mantle, the Brazilian international played 538 games. Throughout all those matches, the former Benfica center-back scored 47 goals. All these years with the eagle on his chest earned him six league titles, four Super Cups, three Portuguese Cups, and seven League Cups.

This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇵🇹 here.