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UEFA Investigates Alleged Racist Abuse During Real Madrid vs. Benfica Match; Benfica Player Provisionally Suspended

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Champions League Play-off Halted Amid Racist Abuse Allegations

A Champions League play-off match between Real Madrid and Benfica was halted for approximately 10 minutes following Real Madrid winger Vinicius Junior's report of alleged racist abuse from Benfica player Gianluca Prestianni. UEFA has initiated an investigation into the incident and has provisionally suspended Prestianni for the upcoming second leg of the competition.

Match Incident and Allegations

The incident occurred during the second half of the match on Tuesday at the Estadio da Luz in Lisbon. In the 50th or 52nd minute, after Vinicius Junior scored the opening goal for Real Madrid, he subsequently received a yellow card for his celebration. Following an interaction with Benfica's Gianluca Prestianni (20), Vinicius Junior approached French referee Francois Letexier, gesturing towards Prestianni, and reported alleged racist abuse.

Vinicius Junior indicated to the referee that Prestianni had used a derogatory term, with one report specifying "monkey," while covering his mouth with his jersey.

Real Madrid teammate Kylian Mbappé reportedly stated he heard Prestianni use a derogatory term five times. Following Vinicius Junior's report, referee Letexier halted play, which lasted for approximately 10 minutes, resuming in the 60th minute. Vinicius Junior and his teammates temporarily left the field during the stoppage.

Player and Club Responses

Benfica player Gianluca Prestianni has denied directing racist insults towards Vinicius Junior. Prestianni stated that Vinicius Junior misunderstood what he thought he heard and reportedly claimed the exchange was "normal provocation between players during a match."

On Wednesday, Benfica publicly defended Prestianni via their official X account, alongside a video of the alleged incident. The club stated, "Given the distance, the Real Madrid players could not have heard what they claim to have heard." Benfica expressed full support for Prestianni, affirming belief in his version of events and noting his conduct has consistently been respectful. The club also stated it "regrets the defamation campaign of which the player has been a victim." Benfica forward Vangelis Pavlidis also defended Prestianni, suggesting the interaction was more related to the rivalry between Brazil and Argentina.

Match Resumption and Aftermath

Real Madrid went on to win the match 1-0, with 12 minutes of stoppage time added. During the extended play, an object thrown from the crowd struck Vinicius Junior on the arm. Vinicius Junior was also reportedly jeered by home fans for the remainder of the game. The referee requested a stadium announcement warning fans against throwing objects onto the field.

Following the match, Vinicius Junior posted on Instagram. He stated, "Racists are, above all, cowards." He also noted receiving a yellow card for celebrating a goal, stating he did not understand why. He characterized the protocol followed during the stoppage as "poorly executed" and "serving no purpose," and added that such incidents were "not new" in his career.

Official Investigation and Provisional Suspension

UEFA has initiated an investigation into the alleged racist abuse. UEFA's disciplinary body provisionally suspended Gianluca Prestianni. As a result, Prestianni is ineligible for "the next UEFA club competition match," specifically the Champions League play-off second leg against Real Madrid at the Santiago Bernabeu. The investigation into the alleged incident is ongoing.

If Prestianni is found guilty of racially abusing Vinicius Junior, he faces a potential minimum 10-match ban from European competition.

Reactions from the Football Community

The incident drew reactions from various figures in the football community:

  • Real Madrid Defender Trent Alexander-Arnold described the incident as "a disgrace to football" and stated there is "no place for it in football or society."
  • Real Madrid Forward Kylian MbappĂ© commented that Prestianni "doesn't deserve to play in the Champions League any more."
  • Benfica Manager Jose Mourinho commented that Vinicius Junior did not "celebrate in a respectful way" after scoring. He added that "a stadium where Vinicius plays something happens, always" and stated that Benfica, referencing the club's icon Eusebio, could not be racist. Mourinho, who is also suspended for the second leg, did not express a belief in either Prestianni's or Vinicius Junior's account, noting they presented "two completely different things."
  • Former Real Madrid Midfielder Clarence Seedorf criticized Mourinho's comments on Amazon Prime, suggesting he made "a big mistake today to justify racial abuse" and emphasized that "We should never, ever justify racial abuse."
  • Former Arsenal Forward Thierry Henry accused Mourinho of attempting to deflect attention from the initial racism allegation by focusing on the celebration.

Broader Context of Vinicius Junior's Experiences

Vinicius Junior has reportedly been subjected to at least 20 incidents of racist abuse since joining Real Madrid. These incidents have included a doll with his name being hung from a bridge by Atletico Madrid fans and an incident in Valencia where a racism protocol was activated. He has consistently refused to remain silent about such incidents and has advocated against racism in football, publicly addressing abuse targeting other players.