Vinícius accuses Prestianni of racist abuse as Champions League tie is halted in Lisbon

• Vinícius Júnior alleged racist abuse during Real Madrid’s win at Benfica
• The match was paused for ten minutes as UEFA protocol was activated
• Benfica midfielder Gianluca Prestianni strongly denied the accusation

Vinícius Júnior accused Benfica midfielder Gianluca Prestianni of racially abusing him during Real Madrid’s Champions League playoff first leg in Lisbon, prompting a ten-minute stoppage as officials activated UEFA’s anti racism protocol.

The Brazil international scored the only goal of the game in the 50th minute at the Estádio da Luz, giving Real Madrid a 1-0 advantage. After celebrating by the corner flag, Vinícius was confronted by Prestianni, who appeared to speak to him while covering his mouth with his shirt. Vinícius immediately pointed towards the Benfica player and ran to inform referee Francois Letexier.

Letexier made the crossed arms signal to indicate an allegation of racist abuse, and play was halted as both teams gathered on the pitch. Vinícius appeared visibly distressed as he spoke with coaching staff, teammates and match officials.

Following the match, Vinícius posted on social media, writing: “Racists are, above all, cowards. They cover their mouths because they are weak.”

Prestianni later issued a statement denying the accusation, saying he had never directed racist insults at Vinícius and that his words had been misinterpreted. Benfica players supported their teammate, stating that the exchange was limited to normal on field provocation.

Real Madrid assistant coach Álvaro Arbeloa confirmed that the players were prepared to leave the pitch if Vinícius wished, but after discussion, the decision was taken to continue.

“Zero tolerance for racism,” Arbeloa said. “We asked Vinícius what he wanted to do and we were ready to support him completely. This cannot happen in football.”

Vinícius was also booked for his goal celebration, a decision he later questioned, describing the application of protocol as ineffective.

Several Real Madrid players publicly supported their teammate, with Kylian Mbappé stating that he believed Vinícius had been racially abused multiple times. Trent Alexander-Arnold called the incident “a disgrace to sport and society,” while Federico Valverde said teammates nearby heard “something very nasty.”

Aurélien Tchouaméni revealed that Vinícius told teammates he had been called a monkey, adding that the squad were ready to walk off if required.

The Brazilian Football Confederation released a statement backing Vinícius, calling the incident unacceptable and reaffirming its commitment to fighting discrimination.

Benfica will travel to Madrid for the second leg at the Bernabéu on February 25, with Real Madrid holding a narrow first-leg advantage as UEFA reviews the incident.

WRITTEN BY

Hailey

Hailey Russell is a football journalist and former Division 1 collegiate athlete in the United States, bringing a unique blend of elite playing experience and professional insight to her work. Currently competing at the professional level in Europe, Hailey combines first-hand knowledge of the modern game with sharp analysis across match reports, player development, and tactical breakdowns.

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