TThe first match of the Champions League playoffs between Benfica and Real Madrid ended 1-0 for the Spanish side. However, the result was overshadowed by controversy after Vinicius Junior reported an alleged racist insult from Gianluca Prestiani during the match. The incident triggered UEFA’s anti-racism protocol, which is currently under formal review.
The match was paused in accordance with protocols
In response to complaints:
The referee stopped the match. The players gathered together while those involved discussed the situation. The outage lasted nearly 10 minutes.
Under UEFA’s three-tier anti-racism protocol, referees can:
pause the match
pause the match
Stop the match if necessary
In this case, no immediate disciplinary action was taken on the field and play eventually resumed. UEFA has launched a disciplinary review to determine whether the sanction is justified. If the accusations are proven, the consequences could include:
Match cancellation for the affected player
monetary penalty
broader disciplinary action;
Vinicius Jr. has previously been at the center of incidents of racist abuse in European football, particularly during matches in Spain’s domestic league. His public stance against racism has made him a target and a leading voice in the fight for stronger enforcement.
UEFA has stepped up its anti-racism crackdown in recent seasons, particularly in high-profile competitions such as the Champions League.
Vinicius reported that he had been called a “monkey”, which is a historically racist insult for black players in European football.
