Real Madrid beat Benfica in match halted for alleged racist abuse…Read More…

Real Madrid beat Benfica in match halted for alleged racist abuse…Read More…

Real Madrid secured a narrow but vital 1–0 victory over Benfica in the first leg of their UEFA Champions League playoff tie at the Estádio da Luz in Lisbon, but the result was overshadowed by a highly controversial incident that saw the match temporarily halted amid allegations of racial abuse.

The decisive moment came early in the second half when Vinícius Júnior broke the deadlock with a brilliant goal. The Brazilian winger, who had been threatening all evening, latched onto a counter‑attacking move initiated by Kylian Mbappé, cut inside from the left and curled a precise effort into the top corner past the goalkeeper to give Madrid the lead. The strike was celebrated wildly by Vinícius, who danced and gestured in front of the home supporters as emotions ran high.

However, the jubilant scenes quickly turned sour. Moments after scoring, Vinícius was confronted by Benfica’s Argentine forward Gianluca Prestianni, who appeared to say something while obscuring his mouth with his shirt — a gesture that drew immediate attention. Vinícius reacted angrily, pointing toward Prestianni and then rushing over to speak with French referee François Letexier, alleging that he had been racially abused.

Referee Letexier responded by activating UEFA’s anti‑racism protocol, signaling the complaint and halting the match. Under the competition’s rules, this procedure is designed to allow officials to assess and respond to claims of discriminatory behavior. Play was suspended for about 10–11 minutes as players from both teams, along with managers and officials, congregated near the touchline. There was visible tension and heated exchanges in the technical areas as the situation unfolded.

During the stoppage, Vinícius, visibly upset, briefly left the pitch and sat on the Real Madrid bench, surrounded by teammates and coaching staff. Benfica’s head coach José Mourinho and Madrid’s Álvaro Arbeloa attempted to calm the situation in talks with the players and match officials. Ultimately, the referee decided to resume the game once the immediate tension eased.

The remainder of the match was fiercely contested, with Benfica pushing for an equalizer but creating limited clear chances. Madrid’s defence held firm, and their goalkeeper produced several important saves to preserve the lead. The intensity remained high, and in the closing stages, Mourinho was sent off by the referee after picking up a second yellow card for dissent.

While the victory gives Real Madrid a small advantage heading into the second leg at the Santiago Bernabéu, the lingering controversy over the alleged racist incident has dominated post‑match discussion. Vinícius, who has previously faced similar abuse during his career, once again found himself at the centre of a debate about racism in football, prompting calls from fans and pundits alike for stronger action against discriminatory behavior.

The match will no doubt be reviewed by UEFA’s disciplinary authorities in the coming days, with potential sanctions or further investigation expected as part of the ongoing effort to tackle racism in the sport