A racism row has erupted after Real Madrid’s Champions League fixture against Benfica in Lisbon. Vinicius Junior alleged that he was targeted with racist remarks during the match, leading Real Madrid to formally submit evidence to UEFA for review.
The club confirmed it is cooperating fully with the probe and has already shared all relevant details with European football’s governing body.
The flashpoint came early in the second half at the Estadio da Luz. Soon after scoring, Vinicius approached referee Francois Letexier and complained about offensive abuse. Real Madrid later suggested that the alleged remark may have come from Benfica winger Gianluca Prestianni rather than the crowd. UEFA’s anti-racism protocol was immediately triggered, and the game was paused for around ten minutes.
After the restart, Madrid edged the contest 1-0, but the post-match focus shifted almost entirely to the incident. UEFA has appointed an ethics and disciplinary inspector to examine the matter, with the investigation timeline yet to be confirmed.
Prestianni has strongly denied the allegation, saying the situation was misunderstood. Benfica also defended their player and stated they would assist in the investigation while opposing any attempt to tarnish his image.
Vinicius later reacted on social media, saying such incidents are not new to him. He stressed that he remains determined to continue the fight against racism. The episode has once again brought the issue of discrimination in European football into sharp spotlight, with the football world now awaiting UEFA’s findings.
