Phallon Tullis-Joyce says alleged racial abuse against Vinicius Jr. is ‘not OK’

Manchester United and U.S. women’s national team goalkeeper Phallon Tullis-Joyce condemned the alleged racial abuse toward Real Madrid and Brazilian winger Vinicius Jr. during a Champions League match against Benfica, calling the incident “shameful” and advocating for deeper reflection on how to protect players.

Vinicius Jr. scored the eventual match-winning goal for Madrid in the 50th minute Tuesday night in Lisbon. He ran to the corner flag, danced to celebrate in front of the home crowd and received a yellow card.

Vinicius Jr. then ran over to the center official, Francois Letexier, pointing toward Benfica and Argentinian winger Gianluca Prestianni, who was seen earlier covering his mouth with his shirt and appearing to communicate with Vinicius Jr.

Letexier then crossed his arms across his chest to indicate FIFA’s “no racism gesture” and initiate its three-step protocol, which lasted about 10 minutes and involved captains from both sides. Benfica fans booed Real Madrid after the match resumed; some threw objects onto the pitch toward the players.

Speaking at a news conference Wednesday ahead of United’s Champions League second-leg playoff match against Atlético Madrid (in which United leads 3-0 on aggregate in its debut campaign), Tullis-Joyce, 29, brought up her personal identity to explain her perspective.

A reporter asked, “As a professional player in a global game, how do you feel that this is still being talked about, that these things still happened, (and) we’ve not got a solution yet?”

“I think it’s a very big question,” Tullis-Joyce said. “I think you’re also asking the daughter of a Black woman, so I have been adjacent to the experience of a Black woman in society, and it’s no surprise to me. I think it’s very shameful that situations like that are continuing to happen.”

She also spoke about having recently met with the club’s All Red, All Equal campaign to promote diversity, equity and inclusion.

“I know that already on our doorstep, we’re looking internally at what we’re doing as a club,” Tullis-Joyce said. “And I think that’s where we can really look at what we can do locally, here at United, and then keep branching out through our social media, our content, and making sure that people know that it’s just simply not OK. End all. Period. Full stop. It’s not OK.”

Prestianni has denied the allegations against him.

UEFA, European football’s governing body, has since opened an investigation into the racial abuse allegations, which will involve an ethics and disciplinary inspector and is likely to take weeks to complete. Prestianni, therefore, is likely to be available for the second leg of the playoff match, which will take place next Wednesday in Madrid at the Bernabeu.

Real Madrid and French striker Kylian Mbappé appeared to have heard Prestianni’s comments during the match and, in the mixed zone afterward, said: “We can’t accept that there’s a player who plays in the best football competition in Europe and who behaves like that. He doesn’t deserve to play anymore in the Champions League. That’s my opinion, but let’s see what happens.”

The journalist at the United news conference followed up with Tullis-Joyce, pointing out that “players have powerful voices and that a lot of people, Vinicius, use (theirs), yet it doesn’t seem to make any difference.” The journalist also suggested how dispiriting that must be.

“Yeah, and I can imagine his comments (reiterating how) this has happened to him several times in the past,” Tullis-Joyce replied. “I think this is something that clubs and the league itself need to reflect on, and I think that’s for people higher than me to really see how they can protect their players, because if it’s continuing to happen, then we need to have some more reflection from clubs and leagues alike of what they can do to really minimize these actions and words that are being used that are not tolerated.”

After her duties with United in the Champions League and against Chelsea in the Women’s FA Cup on Feb. 22, Tullis-Joyce will join the USWNT for camp to prepare for the SheBelieves Cup. The round-robin tournament runs from March 1 to March 5 and will feature matches against Argentina, Canada and Colombia.

This article originally appeared in The Athletic.

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