UEFA has initiated a formal investigation following explosive allegations of racial abuse during Wednesday’s Champions League knockout match between Benfica and Real Madrid. The high-stakes encounter was temporarily suspended for ten minutes after Real Madrid forward Vinicius Jr reported being targeted with racist remarks by Benfica winger Gianluca Prestianni.
The controversial incident unfolded shortly after the Brazilian international scored and celebrated in front of home supporters, earning him a yellow card for his actions. According to multiple reports, Prestianni responded by pulling his shirt over his mouth and directing offensive comments toward Vinicius. The altercation prompted immediate intervention from match referee Francois Letexier, who activated FIFA’s anti-racism protocol, leading to the game’s temporary halt.
In a powerful social media statement posted post-match, Vinicius declared: ‘Racists are, above all, cowards. They need to put their shirts over their mouths to demonstrate how weak they are… Nothing that happened here today was new in my life and my family.’
Benfica and Prestianni have vehemently denied the allegations. The Argentine winger asserted: ‘I want to clarify that at no time did I direct racist insults to Vinicius Jr, who regrettably misunderstood what he thought he heard.’ The Portuguese club released video footage of the incident, characterizing the accusations as part of a ‘defamation campaign.’
The situation gained further complexity when Real Madrid striker Kylian Mbappe testified that he and other players heard the alleged abuse. The French international stated: ‘He put his shirt here to say Vinicius is a ****** five times… For me, this player doesn’t deserve to play in the Champions League anymore.’
Benfica coach Jose Mourinho faced criticism from anti-racism organization Kick It Out after suggesting Vinicius had provoked the exchange through his goal celebration. The charity accused the veteran manager of ‘gaslighting’ tactics.
Despite multiple interruptions, including objects being thrown at Vinicius during stoppage time, Real Madrid secured a narrow 1-0 victory. UEFA’s ethics and disciplinary inspector will now conduct a comprehensive review of all available evidence before determining appropriate disciplinary measures.