Liverpool Banter

28 Feb 2026 20:09:53
Hi ed01 mate,

Hope your well, lost my old account as i always seem to on this site! Forgetful memory! Do you know what Wirtz injury is mate? Is it minor and should he be back soon. It is always abit more concerning when it's a back injury isn't it but wondering if you knew much.


Cheers as always for your work mate.

{Ed001's Note - all we know is that it is a back injury and worse than they initially thought, as they were expecting him back to face the Hammers.}

28 Feb 2026 21:25:04
Post interview, Slot thinks the first Wolves game will be too quick of a turnaround, but the FA Cup game should be good. Makes sense to be cautious.

28 Feb 2026 21:37:55
I just feel, with Wirtz and Isak, don't take any chances. Get them ready for next season.

28 Feb 2026 18:10:04
Just seen what we suspected, Endo is out for the rest of the season and I would have thought played his last game for us. 100% went out on his shield for the team, hope he makes the world cup.

28 Feb 2026 19:57:00
Absolutely gutted for him, a real warrior and a team player. I hope he makes the World Cup.

28 Feb 2026 20:03:18
Had an operation on the ankle. No timeline was put on it, but I can see him going with Japan, be it fit or not. Would be a shame if he didn't get any World Cup minutes, though.

28 Feb 2026 13:47:17
Yellow cards and CORNERS under the "scope" of VAR at the world cup says IFAB! Losing the will to live! The game is being absolutely destroyed and from now on I will mostly be watching netball 😠😠😠.

28 Feb 2026 16:40:17
Clearly so there are more breaks for commercials.

28 Feb 2026 20:58:27
Trump and Infantini's used car dealership @Kemlyn. 😉

28 Feb 2026 13:31:10
You safe ed01? Stay safe mate.

{Ed001's Note - yes mate. I am ok, just worried my parents might not be able to fly home Monday. Both of their birthdays are next month and I was hoping to avoid having to get them prezzies!}

28 Feb 2026 14:30:40
Take care, Ed. Hope you and your family remain safe. Crazy times we are living in now.

{Ed001's Note - lunatics running the asylums now mate.}

28 Feb 2026 17:09:32
Keep safe, Ed001. And stop being a tight sod lol. Get down the shops, lad. YNWA.

{Ed001's Note - it is not the money, it is just me dad is the worst person in the world to buy a prezzie for. He doesn't want anything and has everything he could possibly need.}

27 Feb 2026 19:33:53
With Florian most likely missing the West Ham game this weekend, I really hope we start Rio. I know he's young and may not defend as we'd like but without him we have zero spark! We have next to nothing for West ham to worry about. Summerville is on fire and we need a tricky winger for them to worry about.

27 Feb 2026 20:06:12
I feel he's better off the bench, when opponents are a little tired.

27 Feb 2026 20:12:00
Gomez needs to start, and Szobo back in midfield is the first thing that needs to happen.

27 Feb 2026 20:21:12
Frimpong's back, Kloppers.

27 Feb 2026 21:24:53
Is Frimpong ready to start and play through a majority of the game though, Delvecs? I think it'd be wiser to start with Gomez and introduce Frimpong later in the game against tired legs. But we all know Szob would still be starting at RB. I agree with Ron too.

I'd rather play him towards the end of matches when his directness and willingness to run at players would be best utilised. He's also young, and the men's game can destroy him if he plays too regularly for now. Still, I am curious to know how he'd do from the start of a game.

27 Feb 2026 21:43:08
We can't have a centre back at right back. What happened to the Ramsey protests to play there.

27 Feb 2026 22:46:28
Rio needs longer to make an impact. If Frimpong is fit enough for 60mins, give Rio 30? Why should we keep Salah on miss controlling the ball? Start Gomez at RB, keep Sobs in midfield 60 mins, then bring Rio on.

For Mo and Frimpong for Gomez if he's on the bench. Good chance we lose tomorrow, West Ham are very well organised now and playing well. Must stop Bowen. Quality player. Deserves to play in a better team.

27 Feb 2026 23:49:24
I suspect we will go with the same 11 as Forest. Keep the ball and probe without going wild. After 60 mins, bring in Rio and Frimpong on either side, and run at the tired legs to ignite Anfield.

Far, far from ideal, but that's where we are, and the league itself is. Flo is a huge loss here. I still can't see Rio starting, but I hope he gets more than 15.

28 Feb 2026 08:27:36
Wirtz is a massive, massive miss for us. We need all the guile and invention up front that we can get right now. I really hope he isn't going to be missing too many games in the run-in, as it could really affect our chances of getting top 5.

28 Feb 2026 08:34:13
I think this season highlights just how much we have relied on Mo for that creative and goal scoring spark in seasons past. Isak was the obvious choice to share the burden, but he has not been fit from day one. Frimpong has shown promise in an attacking sense. Hopefully we can keep him fit for the run-in, and Wirtz as well.

28 Feb 2026 08:41:41
Play Gomez at RB for 60 minutes, and then ease Frimpong back into action. Dom to replace Wirtz. The object is to win and get the 3 points. Rio in for Mo, or Cody for the last 30 minutes.

28 Feb 2026 09:28:33
I second what @wdw is saying.

{Ed025's Note - thats the first time i have ever heard that.. :)

28 Feb 2026 09:32:10
That's a good call, Wdw. 👍

28 Feb 2026 10:34:10
That Wdw speaks a lot of sense, you know.

28 Feb 2026 10:37:31
I think Wdw's phone has been hacked. I've half agreed with two of his posts today.

28 Feb 2026 12:44:57
Bring him against tired legs, and he'll do wonders. Starting him, not quite there yet.

28 Feb 2026 15:26:38
"Rio is better off the bench"? He's started like four games, hasn't he?

26 Feb 2026 19:35:10
Not Liverpool related but topical after the recent controversy surrounding Vini Jr.

I watched the game live when Vini Jr accused Prestiani of racially abusing him and going by how wound up Vini Jr was just before the incident and Prestiani's immediate reaction to the allegation on the pitch I thought there was a fair amount of doubt that he said what Vini Jr is accusing him of.

Since then everyone seems to have decided he's guilty. Has something happened that I haven't seen or heard? Is it common knowledge now that he did in fact use racist language?

I'm curious because being accused of being racist is a disgusting thing to be accused of if you didn't actually do it. If he was racist and there's evidence he was then ban him for life but it looks like everyone is just taking Vini Jr's word for it which seems a bit odd.

Vini Jr is one of the most dishonest players that play the game today. He dives, cheats and claims for everything even when it's obvious he doesn't deserve it. He deliberately added fuel to the fire after winding up the Benfica fans and players and when he got booked he was incredulous and could've just been looking for a chance for retribution.

Nothing excuses racism no matter how insufferable Vini Jr is but I really don't understand why everyone is so quick to believe him and condemn Prestiani. Or am I missing something?

{Ed001's Note - the fact that Pestiani admitted to homophobic abuse in his own defence shows that he is not innocent regardless and deserves a lengthy ban.}

26 Feb 2026 19:44:19
Mbappe's reaction is the most telling, there are plenty of clips on YouTube.

26 Feb 2026 20:25:49
It's a fair post. Did he or didn't he? If he did, give him a lengthy ban if he didn't apologise. But the question is, is there proof?

26 Feb 2026 20:49:49
Whatever really happened will only be known between the dude in Benfica uniform covering his mouth with his top and others around him. I don't take the side of people who use slurs. And I'm not talking about calling someone a C or that kind of thing. I'm talking about proper slurs that label a group of people as some kind of bad thing. That is usually reserved for black people, rainbow and other minorities. So, yeah, sure, while we don't know all the facts, Prestianni is either an unproven racist or he is a self-professed homophobe.

I see he has decided it's better to be known as homophobic than racist. What a choice lol. I haven't seen any Benfica players come out and defend Prestianni, at least not that I can find on Google. But there are plenty of articles from the Benfica president, Mourinho and officials like that. Maybe the players have been gagged, but they were nearby and could easily verify Prestianni's account. Moral of the story - don't be a d***. If you don't have anything good to say, and all that.

{Ed025's Note - im with you faith..

26 Feb 2026 20:47:22
That's exactly what I mean Ed I didn't know that.

As much as homophobic abuse is equally as abhorrent it does bring into question Vini Jr's claim though.

What I couldn't understand is why Prestiani was suspended for the second game. Surely they should both have been suspended if it was to preserve peace? It sets a dangerous precedent in 2 legged games. What's to stop a player accusing the opposition's best player of racism because he knows it means he won't play in the second leg? Don't think it wouldn't happen, some of these guys will literally do anything to gain an advantage.

As disgusting as it is if Prestiani used racist language it's equally disgusting if Vini Jr accused him of it when he didn't do it.

{Ed001's Note - how does it call into question Vini Jr's claim? What it does is show he has no problem using nasty slurs to insult someone, which makes the likelihood of him using a racist one more likely, not less.

How can you not understand the suspension? He has already admitted to something that carries a lengthy ban, his suspension is right. I am sorry but you just sound like you hate Vini Jr and have decided he is a liar because of that. You also seem to think homophobic abuse is ok, as you wanted his suspension lifted. You are determined to argue simply because of who is making the accusation. Prestiani should not play again this season, end of.}

26 Feb 2026 22:27:42
It's definitely one's word against another about him using racial language, but everyone seems to just agree with Vini Jr because he said it. No one knows for sure if he said that or not. But if he did say it, then ban him. It's such a tricky subject because it's so sensitive.

Remember John Terry with Anton Ferdinand, the legal system found him innocent, but the FA found him guilty. Still to this day, nobody knows. For me, too many jumped straight on the bandwagon, like Micah Richards calling him a disgrace, without knowing the facts.

26 Feb 2026 22:42:38
Sorry BP, but I have to strongly disagree with your opinion on this matter. Suspensions are the right thing to do for the offending player while investigations are ongoing, and I don't disagree with it whatsoever. People keep arguing that this would set a precedent that players would use it to gain an unfair advantage, but so far, there has not been a single case of that happening, even though suspensions for this kind of matter have always been a thing. As for Prestiani, the fact that he covered his mouth with his shirt raises some eyebrows already.

Furthermore, he has already admitted to using foul language, regardless of whether it's racist or homophobic. As someone pointed out earlier, that carries the same penalty, so I'm not sure why you are defending him on this issue. He deserves to have the book thrown at him. I have to admit that I don't like Vini, and I didn't like his celebration to rile up the Benfica crowd. But that's just me personally, and it still doesn't excuse anyone from abusing, regardless of whether it's using racist terms or homophobic ones.

26 Feb 2026 22:43:29
I also think it's very dangerous to question someone's claim to such a serious accusation, especially when you weren't there. Doing so, and questioning the character of someone who has been repeatedly subjected to racial abuse while playing the game, only makes it harder for him and others to be taken seriously in future instances.

All of this will lead to further instances in the future, and make it harder to stamp it out of the game and society as a whole. As Ed001 has said, he admitted to being homophobic already, and should be banned for a considerable amount of time.

26 Feb 2026 23:10:20
Drac, first, I'm not defending anyone. Prestiani brought it on himself by covering his mouth to say something. Why cover your mouth if you're not saying something you know you'll get in trouble for? But football players cover their mouths to speak all the time, and I'm not sure how you stop that. It doesn't mean he's automatically guilty of racism though. My point on the suspension is not that he shouldn't be suspended, but they both should've missed that game. Prestiani and Benfica strenuously deny the racism claim, but Vini has accused him of it. Prestiani says he used a homophobic slur (which is equally as bad btw, and I knew nothing about when writing my initial post), but that means one of them is not being truthful. That precedent you speak of could be this case for all we know. It's almost as bad for someone to accuse someone of racism when it didn't happen.

That in itself makes it much harder to weed out the real racists and punish racism effectively. I'm not saying Vini should get a long ban, but whilst there is doubt he should've missed that game. Prestiani has admitted saying something which carries a ban, so he shouldn't play until the enquiry is finished and should be sentenced depending on the result of it. If Vini is found to have made a false claim then he should get a long ban too, even if Prestiani is found guilty of using homophobic language but not racist language. We simply cannot have players falsely accusing people of racism; it undermines everything we are trying to achieve in stamping it out. As I said, I'm not defending anyone or taking sides. I dislike both players. I just don't understand why people are so quick to believe Vini Jr without a fair trial. None of us know what really happened.

26 Feb 2026 23:20:19
Varry, what you are suggesting is like putting a criminal in prison, but then also putting the victim in prison until the trial, just in case they are lying. Punishing a footballer for reporting a racist incident is likely to deter them from reporting it in the future, so they don't get suspended.

26 Feb 2026 23:46:18
Your analogy is a bit flawed, Igor, as no one is going to prison on the word of one person when they don't even know if there was any crime committed. And that's my point. There would have to be an investigation first to gather evidence to prove that there was a crime committed before they can arrest someone and hold them in prison. So why are we all so quick to condemn Prestiani with no evidence he said what he's being accused of? If they find evidence, then absolutely ban him for life.

Ban him for the homophobic slur anyway, but that's not what he's being accused of; he apparently gave up that information himself. The only reason I think they both should've missed this game is because it's a second leg. It's part of the same game. There is doubt as to what was said, so, whilst that game is going on and there is doubt, neither player should play.

26 Feb 2026 23:50:41
Sorry BP, but just because a homophobic word was mistaken for a racist one doesn't mean that Vini or the RM players were lying. If you took a look at what Prestiani claimed he said, it was almost similar to what Vini claimed was said, so it wouldn't be out of the ordinary to mistake one for the other.

The fact that Prestiani admitted to using such language seals the deal for me.

27 Feb 2026 02:47:11
I'm pure sick of these nonsense posts. I'm starting to become highly suspicious of anyone who actually watched what happened, and is essentially defending Prestiani. It's very telling to come out and support somebody who openly admitted he used homosexual slurs as his defense of the racist allegations. Can somebody please tell me the last time they even saw someone pull their shirt over their face to shout something at another player? Don't bother telling me, "Players cover their mouths all the time." That's totally different, 99% of the time it's tactical.

I don't think I've ever seen a player cover his mouth just to tell an opponent to "f*** off".

{Ed078's Note - hard to disagree, unless you really want to.

27 Feb 2026 05:21:39
The more Varry Benison posts, the more I think it might just be Jose Mourinho in disguise. Prestiani admitted to using a homophobic slur. That carries the same weight as a racist slur, so that is that. While that is being investigated, if the indiscretion is serious enough, and having the employee return to work during an investigation is likely to cause more harm than not, then it is highly appropriate to have that employee stood down.

This is what has happened here. The idea that Vini should then be suspended to make it fair is wild, lol. Vini hasn't actually done anything wrong, so what would the grounds be? That the Benfica President's feelings were hurt? C'mon, man, you're so far off base on this one.

26 Feb 2026 21:25:38
But Faith although I agree with you homophobia is a bit more difficult. There are many religions that believe homosexuality is a sin so we are telling devout religious people that their religion is wrong. There have been many players who refuse to wear rainbow armbands for example because of their religious beliefs which muddies those particular waters.

I have no idea if that's the case with Prestiani and I have no idea what religious beliefs he has. You can condemn him for using a slur but you can't condemn someone for their religious beliefs.

But is Prestiani using a slur against Vini Jr any worse than Vini Jr calling him a dwarf or midget which is what Prestiani is claiming? Isn't that Vini Jr basically claiming being short is a bad thing?

I live down South these days and the amount of times I've been called a Mickey Mouser and people should watch out for their car stereos and wheels when I'm about and watch their purses etc. Is that people being discriminatory about people from Liverpool? Should I be offended? Should we all be offended? Where does it stop?

I want to be clear I'm not defending anyone I find it cowardly to call anyone a derogatory name due to their race, religion, sexual orientation, appearance or geography.

Prestiani should get a ban regardless of whether it's racist or homophobic abuse, both have no place in society. I'm asking a question of whether Vini Jr calling him a dwarf is also discriminatory and worthy of punishment?

I'm also asking why Prestiani seems to have already been assumed guilty and branded a racist whilst Vini Jr is believed without question.

26 Feb 2026 22:24:26
No you're purposely misunderstanding what I'm saying Ed1 (or did you miss the bit when I said homophobic abuse is equally as abhorrent as racist abuse? ). I said both should've been suspended as there is a question about both of their conduct. Of course it brings Vini Jr's accusation into question. If he called him a homophobic name but Vini Jr decided to claim it was racist you have to ask yourself why he would do that?

Don't forget he's accusing Vini Jr of calling him a Dwarf. Does that show that Vini Jr has no problem using nasty language either?

You're right that I don't like Vini Jr, the guy is a cheat which is why I don't understand why he is so easily believed when he lies about pretty much everything else. He'll try anything to gain an advantage and make it all about him.

But then I don't like Prestiani either. He covered his mouth to say something which is cowardly and has called his character into serious question. Why cover your mouth if you're not saying anything wrong?

I'd just like to see a fair trial rather than everyone just jumping on Vini's side and condemning Prestiani as a racist with no proof. There is enough doubt for me to wait until the outcome of any investigation.

I have to say Ed I would love to have a debate with you as we do disagree on quite a few things and I wish you were more willing to listen and respond cordially rather than twisting my words to make me look bad.

{Ed001's Note - I am not purposely misunderstanding anything. The fact that you have even written a post to attack Vini Jr, which is what you have done, shows your motivation and so everything you write is based around that premise.}

27 Feb 2026 06:32:17
Sorry, but that post about people thinking 'homosexuality is a sin' also needs calling out. I know plenty of people who believe this, but I have never once seen or heard them verbally abusing someone who is openly homosexual.

If you think religious people do that, then you don't know a lot about religious people. Maybe covering his mouth with his shirt is a religious act too?

{Ed001's Note - thank you Ron, I thought the same but was thinking maybe I am just being harsh, so I am really glad you said it.}

27 Feb 2026 06:54:05
The authorities have decided on the path they are taking, VB, best just to leave it at that. If they had taken a different route, I'm sure you would have a paragraph or two saying that was wrong as well.

27 Feb 2026 07:05:06
I love the little by-play in The Gentlemen with Colin Farrell ('Coach') and two of the lads (would-be boxers). If you've seen it, Guy Ritchie's take on the subject is spot on.

27 Feb 2026 07:30:53
Not entirely sure what you're getting at, Varry. Sure, some religions consider homosexuality to be a sin, but that does not mean people who subscribe to that religion go around slinging slurs at everybody they see. Are you saying that if a Muslim of a certain more conservative persuasion, or a fundamentalist Christian athlete, goes around doing that, they should be let off the hook because punishing them would be intolerance? That is pretty absurd. As for your suggestion that players are going to be doing this to get the best player of the other team banned and gain an edge, first of all it takes some doing to suggest that coaches are now going to ask black players on their team to go out and get the opposition banned at every opportunity. Second of all, in this particular case Prestianni is hardly Benfica's best player in the first place. I mean, what you are suggesting is that Vini was ingenious enough, in the spur of the moment, to exploit the fact that he is black and has faced alleged racial abuse in the past, to incriminate a player whom we have no way of knowing was guilty or not, so that his team could gain an advantage, however slim that might be.

Maybe you should think about the consequences of what you are suggesting. I am still not sure how Vini diving and playacting on the field precludes him being racially abused. He is a flamboyant and fiery player who attracts the scorn of opposition defenders and fans, and one could argue that makes him more prone to that kind of stupidity rather than less. That being the case, are you going to join the side of braindead right wing pundits and the likes of Mourinho, saying it is his fault and he should be more low profile so that he does not get monkey chants (which he clearly did at Benfica; there is clear footage of the fans doing it)? He has every right to do whatever dance he wants at the corner flag to celebrate a great goal. I am not sure what argument would justify telling him to tone it down.

27 Feb 2026 08:35:04
The abuse of any protected characteristic in Europe is abuse, end of. They are not weighted in importance, regardless of UEFA straplines as to what they feel they need to stamp out. He's admitted to making homophobic comments, so should be banned to the fullest extent.

What happens, or is opinionated, in other areas of society, continents or religions, is irrelevant. UEFA need to show leadership and throw the book at him for what he's admitted to and treat any such abuse equally.

27 Feb 2026 08:56:00
Do you know what? It's totally pointless debating with some people on this site. You read part of what I said, twist it, and then try to make out I mean something I don't. I even said homophobia is more difficult due to some religious beliefs, but that doesn't excuse using a homophobic slur. Then I get people saying a homophobic slur is ok because of your religion. It's quite pathetic, really. Never once have I taken Prestiani's side or said using a homophobic slur or a racist slur is ok. I was opening a debate as to why someone can accuse someone else of something so heinous as racism, something that will follow them for the rest of their life, with no proof, and everyone just blindly wants to throw them to the wolves. There's just no logic anymore, and it's infuriating. Everyone just wants to jump on the bandwagon and condemn someone to show that their own values are in line with the expected social norm.

It's like some of you use an opportunity like this to tell the world what a good person you are, whilst having no problem ruining someone else's life in the process. As much as we need to have a zero tolerance approach to racism, we also need to be very careful that we give people a fair trial before condemning them to being called a racist for the rest of their life. It's a vile thing to be accused of, so let's just be sure before we ruin someone's life by taking the word of one other person. That's all I'm saying. He should be punished for the homophobic slur, but this thread is the first I've heard of that. Everywhere I've seen is still branding him a racist, which there is no proof of. Then we get people saying well if he's ok saying something homophobic then he must be guilty of racism too. What?!

27 Feb 2026 09:03:33
I mean, his defence seems to be he didn't utter racist abuse but homophobic abuse instead, and Vini Jnr misheard? Ok, is that not equally as bad, and should he face the exact same punishment? He's basically said, "Yep, I am complete and utter scum," but not exactly for what he was accused of, rather for something different but equally as bad. Aye, great defence that.

27 Feb 2026 09:35:31
Varry, You've had a 'mare here, mate. Sorry to say. None of what you posted makes any sense re: Prestiani's disgraceful conduct vis a vis Vini Jnr, who, by the way, is the victim here. For you to attack him in any way, shape, or form while trying to massage Prestiani's terrible behaviour is bang out of order. Because clearly in your world, it is okay to be a homophobe as long as you're not a racist. Because clearly, you cannot be both, right? Mate, what are you out here doing? "Prestianni is either an unproven racist or he is a self-professed homophobe." Faithinworks.

This above quote right here sums it all up. You seem to think that if you are a homophobe, you can't be a racist. That tells me you have no idea how society works in this context. If you are anti-gay/homophobic, then you are more than likely to possess prejudice for other minorities. That is just the way it is. Why? Because minorities are not just the melanated or people of a darker skin tone. Women, Trans, LGBTQ etc. are also minorities and get the same type of hate and prejudice. Seriously, do better.

27 Feb 2026 09:50:39
In a society where everyone is guilty, the only crime is getting caught. George Orwell. All the people who just agree with what Vini Jr says because he said it do not make them or him right. Now we are getting posters saying about right wing etc. I agree with Varry on this one; nobody knows what got said. He admitted homophobic language, but because he has admitted that, well now he might as well be racist because he covered his mouth, yet every footballer does this when speaking on the pitch.

They might be calling other players, managers, fans, who knows. And in countries and religions it's punishable by death to be gay, but people still live n work there. Glasshouses n all that.

27 Feb 2026 10:08:50
At the end of the day, Prestiani has admitted to verbally abusing Vini Jr. This is 100% fact. Whether that was racist in nature or homophobic in nature is completely irrelevant. What you are suggesting, Barry, is that Vini Jr should also be banned for being the subject of the abuse. How on earth can you consider people being on board with this concept just because there is a minuscule chance that what he said wasn't racist?

It's fair enough if you didn't realise he had admitted to abuse before your original post, and if you held your hands up when this was flagged, people would probably have let it lie for the most part.

Instead, though, you doubled down and tried to justify homophobic abuse by bringing religion into it. Throughout this thread, you have just been digging a deeper hole for yourself. Abuse of any kind should never be tolerated, and victims of abuse should be supported in any way possible - not suspended. This goes for any player in any team, no matter how much you like or dislike them.

27 Feb 2026 06:22:46
You're digging yourself deeper Varry mate and need to stop.

Using the F word that Prestiani did as a homophobic slur couldn't be defended by religion. Even if your religion doesn't agree with certain people's choices, it doesn't mean you can abuse them for it

Also insulting someone's size is not the same as someone's sexuality, not even close.

Are you familiar with protected characteristics? They exist for a reason.

As soon as you heard what everyone on this thread has told you, it was time to back down rather than double down mate. He's a self confessed homophobe so should be admonished as such and punished accordingly

27 Feb 2026 09:18:34
Varry, so what is someone is religious? That doesn't justify homophobia. Any religious person who uses a thousand year old transcript to justify being homophobic, refusing to support homosexuality with a bloody armband or even just having homophobic beliefs is just a scum bag. Plain and simple. I will unapologetically tell that to any religious persons face as well. You choose what you believe in, but you can't choose your sexuality. Therefore your belief system is totally fair game to criticise, but your sexuality is absolutely not. Being homosexual is totally natural and occurs in nature amongst several animal species.

Being religious is totally unnatural and humans are the only species on the planet who have made up imaginary friends in the sky to try and justify their disgusting oppressive beliefs. I'm a logical man of science though, not a spineless sheep. My blunt opinions which can be backed up factually, cost me relationships with some of my practicing Christian family members, but I honestly couldn't care less. Their lack of IQ to think critically about what they're told is not my problem.

27 Feb 2026 10:08:44
Tulii - he hasn't been banned, he has been provisionally suspended. Which again, is entirely appropriate while the investigation takes place.

Varry Benison - people are just taking the first thing you say because if anyone else is like me, they read the first couple lines and then roll the eyes because you're just making the same claim despite what someone else has said.

You haven't given a logical argument to support why you think Vini should also be suspended. Other than to say it's fair? And to make a claim that a false accusation is as bad as an actual racist. I dunno about that myself. For example, I would think that a bunch of white folk lynching a black kid and hanging him from a tree would be worse than a black kid falsely accusing a bunch of white folk of lynching another black kid and hanging him from a tree. But that's just me

You seem more upset that Vini may have made a false accusation and further you seem to be leaning towards the idea that that is more likely to have happened.

Anyways, let's see if black players suddenly use racial accusations as a tactic. I don't see that happening en masse to be so worried about this being a precedent setter. I find it an odd thing to be concerned about to be honest. I would have thought the far more important matter is that footballers stop being douche bags on camera for the world to see.

27 Feb 2026 10:19:06
Oli, I never said that a homophobe can't be racist. I said just because he's admitted using homophobic language doesn't mean he's automatically racist, and we should wait for the results of the enquiry before labelling him as such. Maybe I'm the only person who is prepared to look at this with an open mind and not use it as a virtue signalling opportunity. Homophobia and racism are equally abhorrent, as I've said on many an occasion on this thread, and both should be treated with zero tolerance. As should any type of discrimination, including calling someone a dwarf, fat, beanpole, if it's used in a derogatory, offensive manner. I've got no time for any of it.

But we shouldn't be condemning anyone before we have proof that he actually did what he's being accused of. Vini Jr accused him of being racist, and, as of yet, there is no proof he actually was, so I choose to keep an open mind until such proof is forthcoming. That doesn't mean I don't condemn him for being homophobic, but that's not what the accusation is. Did Vini Jr just hear what he wanted to hear, as he knew the response he would get? Did he just assume it was racist because of his previous experiences with racism? Or was it, in fact, a racist comment? All of these are possible, so how can anyone brand him a racist before it is proven?

27 Feb 2026 10:43:22
All people of colour will have experienced this type of abuse. It is abhorrent, disgusting, and what advantage do they expect to gain by using it? Homophobia is no better! Only the user knows what was said. How was racist abuse mistaken for homophobic abuse? It is an accusation he has used over 20 times.

So, an enquiry and investigation are definitely needed, and if guilty he should receive a lengthy ban and not have the relative authorities put up a few more posters or invent a new slogan or action without really addressing the issue.

27 Feb 2026 11:14:57
To make it easy for you, Varry, he has admitted a homophobic slur and will hopefully get punished for it. It doesn't matter what Vini heard, or if he heard it correctly, as the punishment will be the same. None of us were on the pitch, so our opinions are irrelevant without proof, and the only proof we have is Prestiani's own admission.

27 Feb 2026 09:37:17
Ed025 don't get your knickers in a twist her am just using this incident as a point because involved one of our players.
I agree being found guilty of racism should get a lengthy suspension but I don't get how it does but the challenge from Pickford on Virgil gets nothing and challenges like that effect players careers long term Virgil has got back to a high level but never too the level he was before.

That season without that injury to Virgil I believe we go on to win the league.
Then we can also go back to the rat who played upfront for us Dean Saunders and the challenge he made on paul elliott that ended his career. I think it's about time when challenges that are this reckless get given bans that match the incident.

{Ed025's Note - that has nothing whatsoever to do with the racism debate Grino and im surprised you even mentioned it in the same sentence mate..its a bit pathetic in all honesty..

27 Feb 2026 12:24:29
Is this "Harry" Venison? I thought I recognised the nonsense. Prestianni is the only one who truly knows what was said, allowing for Vini to have possibly misheard due to being in a loud, hostile atmosphere. Either way, homophobic, racist, whatever it was, he clearly knew what was going to be the next words out of his mouth, as he's covered his mouth with his shirt.

The guy's an idiot, and doesn't deserve to be playing football at such a high standard. Who'd have thought that a footballer would be capable of such Neanderthal-like behaviour? Oh, hang on.

27 Feb 2026 13:29:53
I get the point Varry is (clumsily) making, it's the principle of 'innocent until proven guilty'. Nothing wrong with that as a principle in law, but this is not law, he is not being prosecuted, this is sport. All sorts of play-acting, off-the-ball incidents happen all the time, and players get good or bad decisions. In this example, I use the analogy: "If you want to make an omelette, you have to smash some eggs." If you want to get rid of racism (and other forms of verbal abuse), you have to be heavy-handed and suspend the accused.

Asking for "definitive proof" allows too much wriggle room for real racists, and that's why racism isn't "kicked out". I'd be pretty shocked if any player would use false accusations of abuse as a way of gaining an advantage. Some players have questionable morals, but I think that would be a step too far for all of them.

27 Feb 2026 13:39:12
Let's just live together in peace and quiet and not make matters worse by giving people the time of day who use anything against another person. YNWA

27 Feb 2026 13:44:36
Can we just have this nonsense about racism, sexism and anything else with a ISM at the end of it banned from this 'supposedly' football chat, if we want to discuss this put it on one of the other forums on here, no one knows what was said but you'd think people were actually standing next to vini they way they're speaking.

i'll bet every single person on here has said something to someone in the heat of the moment which they might even regretted or not regretted.

27 Feb 2026 14:36:40
Why should we ban it and not talk about it when it is still happening in football? Racism is still rife and that is a problem. Just recently, Fofana received many racist DMs for his sending-off against Burnley by so-called fans. Should we just bury that under the carpet and not talk about it because it makes you uncomfortable?

27 Feb 2026 17:02:09
Unfortunately nobody is innocent until being proven guilty these days. Social media has put paid to that. It's a slippery slope in my opinion. As for Vini Junior, sure he can get on like a bit of a twerp on the pitch, but I'm sure I've read that he funds a lot of ventures back in Brazil, schools, etc., so he clearly isn't as bad as some make out.

Anyway, massive bans are the way to go, not this taking the knee b******* which is no more than a token gesture. Bans and large fines, hit them where it hurts.

27 Feb 2026 17:33:10
At least my original post sparked debate, which was the intention. I'm not on any social media. In fact, I despise all of it. It has the power to brainwash people on a massive scale without them even knowing it, and this thread is proof of that. Nobody is able to form their own opinion based on the facts available to them, because the facts are blurred by social media, where everyone is told what they should think.

I respect all of your opinions, and you are entitled to them, but please respect mine. I believe in fairness, and I don't believe in people being hung, drawn and quartered without a fair trial.

27 Feb 2026 18:12:32
MK, it's a strong move to claim you are more intelligent than anyone of faith. Some of the greatest ever religious philosophers and theologians were pretty smart: Anselm, Aquinas, Luther, Erasmus, etc. And they put together some pretty great arguments, the ontological, cosmological, etc. All brilliant minds. None of them rested upon the absurdity of the absolute blind faith which America was founded upon, and which I think you have an issue with.

But the idea that no one of sound mind can believe that a greater power perhaps created us is for the birds. As an agnostic, I applaud both views - but dislike the notion that either side is more sentient than the other. And the idea that humans are the only species to believe in an afterlife? Examine animal behaviour, and you will see this is just wrong. Wilson and others showed how ants and wasps build for an afterlife.

27 Feb 2026 21:26:24
MonsterSouness, I had to re-read my post to check I hadn't misspoken, but you have totally misread my post, bud. Nowhere did I say all religious people lack critical thinking or have low IQ. I only criticised people who hide behind religion to justify discrimination and oppression. I am well aware that there are billions of religious people who are intelligent and do not follow their religious books down to the letter if it means being an objectively bad person. Re-read my post yourself, mate. I was raised Christian and I am christened.

I just rejected a large chunk of the Bible and Christian beliefs because they do not make logical sense or are steeped in intolerance. The same can be said of almost all religions, though, because the books were all written a long time ago when society was less accepting and far less refined. I will, however, look up the ant/wasp theory you mentioned as that sounds quite interesting. Although not entirely the same as using a God to justify being abusive or intolerant, it still interests me!