Benfica vs Real Madrid: Referee invokes UEFA’s anti-racism protocol after Vinicius Jr’s Champions League goal…Read More…

Benfica vs Real Madrid: Referee invokes UEFA’s anti-racism protocol after Vinicius Jr’s Champions League goal…Read More…

The UEFA Champions League clash between Benfica and Real Madrid in Lisbon on Tuesday night, February 17, 2026 was overshadowed by a controversial incident that saw play halted after Real Madrid’s Brazilian forward Vinícius Júnior accused an opponent of making a racially abusive remark immediately following his match‑opening goal.

In the 50th minute at the Estádio da Luz, Vinícius Jr fired Real Madrid into the lead with a brilliant strike into the top corner after a competitive first half. But the celebrations quickly turned tense as the forward’s interaction with home fans and opposition players sparked unrest on the pitch.

As Real Madrid tried to restart play, cameras captured Vinícius gesturing towards Benfica winger Gianluca Prestianni and reporting what he claimed were racist comments directed at him. According to reports, Vinícius claimed that Prestianni had used the word “mono” — Spanish for “monkey” — an allegation that Prestianni denied, even while covering his mouth during the encounter.

Referee François Letexier immediately halted the match after speaking with Vinícius, invoking UEFA’s anti‑racism protocol — a set of procedures designed to respond when a player indicates they have been subjected to discriminatory conduct. The stoppage lasted roughly 10 minutes amid confusion on the touchline and a visible confrontation between the teams’ benches. One member of Benfica’s coaching staff reportedly received a straight red card during the heated sequence as officials attempted to restore order.

The brief suspension of play marked one of the most prominent uses of UEFA’s anti‑racism measures in recent years and highlighted both the persistence of racial abuse issues in European football and the governing body’s ongoing effort to tackle them. It also sparked debate about how such protocols are applied, especially when incidents are alleged between players rather than emanating from supporter behaviour.

Vinícius eventually returned to the pitch and the game resumed, but he appeared visibly upset as play continued and was reportedly met with boos from the crowd. Real Madrid managed to maintain their lead, with additional contributions from stars like Kylian Mbappé and Trent Alexander‑Arnold ensuring they controlled large phases of the match.

Across social and broadcast commentary, former officials underscored that Referee Letexier’s decision to stop the match was in line with UEFA’s regulatory framework, which aims to provide players with a mechanism to call attention to discriminatory behaviour — a stark reminder that racism remains a pressing concern across European football.

UEFA has confirmed it will investigate the incident further, reviewing all available footage and testimony from players, officials, and match delegates before determining any disciplinary or procedural outcome. The situation adds a complex layer to Real Madrid’s Champions League journey and is certain to reignite broader conversations about racism in the sport at all levels.

Would you like a timeline of incidents where Vinícius Jr has reported racism in football before, or a summary of UEFA’s anti‑racism protocol steps?