"What they did not expect was that the football itself would soon be overshadowed by a racism allegation that halted the match for nearly ten minutes and sent shockwaves throughout the sport. Real Madrid forward Vinícius Júnior, who scored the match's decisive goal early in the second half, accused Benfica's Gianluca Prestianni of directing a racist slur at him. The allegation immediately triggered UEFA's anti-racism protocol on the field and set off an investigation that is now being closely watched across the global football community."
"In the minutes following Vinícius' brilliant finish, the scenes shifted from celebration to chaos. Objects rained down from the stands as Benfica supporters reacted angrily to the forward's dancing celebration by the corner flag. Cameras captured Prestianni confronting Vinícius with his mouth covered by his shirt-an image that, in the heat of the moment, seemed to carry heavy implications. Vinícius alleged that the Argentine winger called him "monkey," prompting the Brazil international to approach referee François Letexier."
Real Madrid played Benfica at Lisbon's Estadio da Luz on February 17, 2026 in a Champions League playoff fixture. Vinícius Júnior scored the decisive goal early in the second half and subsequently accused Benfica winger Gianluca Prestianni of directing a racist slur at him. UEFA's on-field anti-racism protocol was immediately activated and the match was halted for nearly ten minutes amid objects thrown from the stands and heated confrontations. Players debated leaving the pitch before play resumed, but Real Madrid secured a 1-0 win. The incident prompted a formal investigation and strong public responses.
Read at Soccer News
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