Liverpool manager Arne Slott has spoken out about racism in football, saying the sport needs to do more to prevent future incidents.
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Published February 19, 2026
Liverpool manager Arne Slott says more needs to be done to avoid racism in football following allegations that Real Madrid’s Brazilian forward Vinicius Junior was subjected to racist abuse by Benfica’s Argentine winger Gianluca Prestianni.
Real’s 1-0 Champions League play-off first leg win over Benfica on Tuesday was overshadowed by Vinicius accusing him of using a racist slur against Prestiani, a charge denied by the Portuguese club, players and manager Jose Mourinho.
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European soccer governing body UEFA said it was reviewing the incident, which saw the match suspended for 11 minutes, under FIFA’s anti-racism rules.
“In general, you can never do enough to prevent this (racism in football) from happening again. You can always do more,” Slott told reporters ahead of Liverpool’s Premier League visit to relegation-threatened Nottingham Forest on Sunday.
“We, as a football community, have to try to do more than society is doing. By the way, it may not be that difficult. The protocols were followed in the match. That is the first step,” he said on Thursday.
“I hope the players will act the same way. We will deal with it immediately and the referees will act the same way.”
As for the game against Forest, Slott expects it to be a different set-up under the Midlands club’s new manager Vitor Pereira, unlike in November, when Liverpool lost 3-0 at Anfield.
Former Wolverhampton Wanderers manager Pereira was appointed last Sunday to replace the sacked Sean Dyche.
“Only tonight will we know if this new manager will make changes in personnel,” Slott said on Thursday, referring to Forest’s first game under Pereira at Fenerbahce in a Europa League play-off clash.
“The good thing is they played that game and the manager was in the Premier League last season.”
The Dutchman said Jeremy Frimpong will also be sidelined this weekend, but fellow defender Joe Gomez is ready to start if needed.
Slott said the team had improved in recent months, with Liverpool in sixth place with 42 points after 26 games.
“We have improved compared to three or four months ago. We are in a much better situation than we were a few months ago,” the 47-year-old added.
“There are other reasons, but the two simplest are how fit we are and our set-pieces are much better at the moment.”
Forest are languishing in 17th place, one place and three points above relegation zone West Ham United.
