Liverpool manager Arne Slot has called on the football community to intensify its fight against racism following allegations that Real Madrid forward Vinicius Jr was subjected to racial abuse during a Champions League clash against Benfica.
The incident occurred during Real Madrid’s 1-0 playoff first leg victory in Lisbon, where Vinicius accused Benfica winger Gianluca Prestianni of directing a racist slur at him. The allegation was denied by both the player and the Portuguese club, while UEFA confirmed it is reviewing the matter after the match was halted for 11 minutes under anti racism protocols.
Speaking ahead of Liverpool’s Premier League trip to Nottingham Forest, Slot stressed that football must set a higher standard in tackling discrimination.
“In general, you can never do enough,” Slot said. “There is always more that can be done to make sure racism never happens again. As a football community, we must try to do more than society does.”
The Dutch coach praised the application of the protocol during the match and expressed hope that his own players would react similarly if faced with such a situation, encouraging immediate reporting and firm action from officials.
Away from the controversy, Slot also addressed Liverpool’s upcoming league fixture. He expects Nottingham Forest to show changes under new manager Vitor Pereira, who recently replaced Sean Dyche. Slot noted that Forest’s recent European outing could provide insight into their tactical adjustments.
The Liverpool boss confirmed Jeremie Frimpong remains unavailable, while Joe Gomez is fit and ready if called upon.
Slot added that Liverpool have made steady progress in recent months, pointing to improved fitness levels and greater effectiveness at set pieces as key reasons for their rise up the table.
With the season entering a decisive phase, Slot insists the focus remains on consistency both on and off the pitch as the club pushes for a strong finish.
