Ahead of Argentina Clash, He Speaks Out Against Racism: "They Called Me a Monkey"
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The 23-year-old left-back became the target of hateful attacks in lower German leagues and on social media following a controversial Champions League match for Benfica last season.
Fans falsely accused Cabral of disloyalty to the club, claiming he exchanged jerseys with Vinicius Junior. This alleged incident occurred during a Champions League fixture where the referee sent off his teammate, Gianluca Prestianni, for verbally abusing the Brazilian star.
“I received a lot of abusive messages, including racist attacks and monkey chants. At one point, I had to turn off my phone and block comments on my posts,” Cabral was quoted as saying by DPA.
The Cape Verdean defender remains outraged by reports of racist attacks after losses. “It’s terrible that this is still happening in 2026. Players represent their country and are still treated this way. It’s unacceptable,” added the 23-year-old Cabral, who will transfer to Turkish club Trabzonspor after the tournament.
More on the 2026 FIFA World Cup:
- Full Schedule
- Complete Results
- Standings
- 2026 FIFA World Cup News
- FIFA World Cup TV Schedule
- Team Jerseys
- Stadiums
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