Lisbon– real Madrid Ahead Vinicius Junior accused benfica‘S gianluca prestieni He was racially abused during the team’s Champions League playoff first leg on Tuesday, forcing the match to be stopped 10 minutes into the second half.
Vinicius put Madrid ahead in Lisbon by scoring a 50th-minute goal – the only goal in a 1-0 win – and then came face to face with Prestiani after celebrating by the corner flag.
Prestiani could be seen talking to Vinicius while covering his mouth with his jersey, before the Brazil international waved him off and ran towards the referee.
Vinicius spoke to referee Francois Letexier, who made an “arms-crossed” gesture indicating that racist abuse had been charged.
“Racists are cowards,” Vinicius posted on Instagram after the game. “They need to put their shirt over their mouth to show how weak they are.”
The match at the Estadio da Luz was then stopped as Vinicius appeared distressed and spoke to Madrid coach Álvaro Arbeloa, Benfica’s José Mourinho and teammates.
Arbeloa later confirmed that Madrid was prepared to leave the field if Vinicius wanted, but after discussion, the team had decided to continue.
“Tolerance for racism must be zero,” Arbeloa said in a post-match press conference. “Things like this can’t happen on the 2026 pitch… I asked [Vini] If he wants to continue playing. I told him that we are with him. We will always have to be with him.”
“The referee told me he didn’t hear anything and he couldn’t do anything in that situation,” Arbeloa said. “Whatever Vinnie said, we would have stood by it… zero tolerance for it.”
Vinicius was also shown a yellow card after his goal when he celebrated by dancing near the corner flag and was then confronted by several Benfica players.
“I got a yellow card for celebrating a goal, and I still don’t understand why,” Vinicius said on Instagram. “And then there is a protocol, poorly implemented, that does nothing.”
Speaking in the mixed area after the match, klian mbappe Said Prestiani had racially abused Vinicius several times, and said the Argentinian “doesn’t deserve to play in the Champions League again.”
“It ruined the night, it’s an insult to the game,” the Madrid defender said. Trent Alexander-Arnold Told CBS. “This is a disgrace even in the society. There is no place for it. But if such incidents happen, we can deal with it just like we did tonight.”
“I’m very proud of the team, the club and the team and everyone’s reaction.”
“According to teammates who were nearby, they heard something very bad,” the Madrid midfielder said. federico valverde Said. “It’s a shame it wasn’t recorded despite so many cameras.”
“This cannot happen,” Madrid’s Aurélien Tchoumeni Told Movistar. “Vinny told us that guy called him a monkey…Vinny told us we have to keep playing. I said if there’s a problem, we’ll come out as a team, that’s all. But we talked, and we said we’ve got to win.”
Benfica players said that Prestieni told them that he provoked Vinicius but never used racist insults.
“I asked him and he said it was a normal provocation between players during a match,” the Benfica midfielder said. Leandro Barreiro Said. “He said there’s nothing racist about it.”
The Brazilian Football Confederation (CBF) released a statement in support of its player.
“The CBF stands in solidarity with Vinicius Junior, the victim of yet another act of racism after scoring for Real Madrid against Benfica in Lisbon this Tuesday,” it added.
“Racism is a crime. It is unacceptable. It cannot exist in football or anywhere else. Vinny, you are not alone. Your actions in activating the protocol are an example of courage and dignity.
“We are proud of you. We will remain steadfast in the fight against all forms of discrimination. We are always with you.”
Benfica travels to Madrid next week on 25 February for the second leg of the playoffs at the Bernabeu.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
