The UEFA Champions League clash between Real Madrid and Bayern Munich was a hard fought affair, with both sides pushing their limits. Despite this, there was still time for some camaraderie off the pitch. Despite this, there was a moment of camaraderie between Vinícius Júnior and Vincent Kompany near the end of halftime.
Just before the start of the second half, the Brazilian rushed over to the sideline to meet the FC Bayern coach. The two high-fived and hugged briefly, before Viní returned to his
team for kickoff. As Kompany confirmed after the game, it was his first time meeting the Brazilian. So why the hug and high-five?
It has to do with the incident that occurred in the first leg of the Champions League playoffs, where Vinícius accused Benfica’s Gianluca Prestianni of racist abuse. José Mourinho defended his player in the media after the game, which drew harsh criticism from Kompany at the time. Kompany’s response was widely publicized as an ideal response to racism in the game and was deeply supportive of Vinícius Júnior and what he went through. The Brazilian was simply acknowledging the gesture.
“This is the first time I’ve met him [Viní],” said Kompany after full time (via @iMiaSanMia). “I think Viní should stay the way he is. And he has my full support, whether he’s an opposing player or not. I think sometimes you need players who are ‘different’. We have that, too, and we enjoy their success. Franck Ribéry was one of those for Bayern Munich, and you’re entitled to your opinion. But you can’t cross a line, and that’s why I have a lot of respect for Viní.”
If you have not seen or listened to what Kompany said about the incident, a full transcript can be found here.
