The incident unfolded just after Vinícius Júnior had given Real Madrid a 1-0 lead in the 50th minute with a clinical finish into the top corner. The Brazilian star’s celebration in front of the home crowd quickly escalated tensions, leading to a confrontation involving Benfica’s young Argentine forward Gianluca Prestianni and several players from both sides. Vinícius approached French referee François Letexier to report that he had been the victim of alleged racist abuse — specifically accusing an opponent (widely reported as Prestianni) of directing monkey chants or slurs like “mono, mono” toward him.
The referee immediately stopped play in the 52nd minute, crossed his arms in the universal signal, and activated UEFA’s anti-racism protocol. This led to chaotic scenes: Vinícius briefly stormed toward the tunnel and sat in the away dugout, heated exchanges erupted between coaching staff (with members of Benfica’s bench approaching the Real Madrid technical area), and the match was paused as officials, players, and even José Mourinho (Benfica’s manager) got involved in attempts to calm the situation. Mourinho reportedly spoke to Vinícius, urging him to continue playing amid the high-charged atmosphere.
The delay lasted approximately 10 minutes while the protocol was followed — involving discussions with captains, match officials, and stadium announcements — before the game resumed. Real Madrid went on to secure the 1-0 victory, giving them a slender advantage heading into the second leg, but the interruption overshadowed what was already a tense, high-stakes European tie.
Supporters have been left furious, flooding platforms like X, Instagram, and Facebook with reactions:
- “This should NEVER happen at this level — racism has no place in football 😤”
- “Vinícius has been through this too many times — UEFA needs to act decisively 👀”
- “Chaotic scenes, crossed lines, and yet again the victim has to deal with the fallout 🤯”
The outrage echoes Vinícius’s previous battles against racism in La Liga and beyond, where he’s been a vocal advocate for change. Many fans and pundits are now demanding a full investigation, potential sanctions against the accused player or sections of the crowd (if chants were involved), and stronger enforcement of UEFA’s protocols to prevent such disruptions in elite competitions.
Benfica issued no immediate official comment on the allegations, while Real Madrid and Vinícius’s camp have yet to release detailed statements post-match. UEFA is expected to review the incident, including referee reports and any available audio/video evidence, with possible disciplinary actions to follow.
This isn’t the first time racism has marred a high-profile match, but tonight’s halt — in a Champions League knockout — has reignited the debate: how can professional football still allow this in 2026? Fans are united in saying enough is enough, demanding real accountability to protect players and preserve the game’s integrity.
