{"id":23420,"date":"2026-02-17T23:08:50","date_gmt":"2026-02-17T23:08:50","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/eplvip.com\/index.php\/2026\/02\/17\/champions-league-fixture-canceled-after-vinicius-junior-accuses-benfica-player-of-racial-insults\/"},"modified":"2026-02-17T23:08:50","modified_gmt":"2026-02-17T23:08:50","slug":"champions-league-fixture-canceled-after-vinicius-junior-accuses-benfica-player-of-racial-insults","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/eplvip.com\/index.php\/2026\/02\/17\/champions-league-fixture-canceled-after-vinicius-junior-accuses-benfica-player-of-racial-insults\/","title":{"rendered":"Champions League fixture canceled after Vinicius Junior accuses Benfica player of racial insults"},"content":{"rendered":"


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LISBON, Portugal (AP) – Tuesday’s Champions League match between Real Madrid and Benfica was halted for several minutes after Vinicius Junior accused an opponent of racial insults.<\/p>\n

Shortly after Vinicius gave Madrid a 1-0 lead in the first leg of the knockout play-offs, French referee Fran\u00e7ois Letexier stopped the match in the 52nd minute.<\/p>\n

Benfica’s players were not pleased with Vinicius celebrating by dancing in front of the corner flag, and several, including Argentina’s Gianluca Prestianni, confronted Vinicius. <\/p>\n

As Prestiani was complaining to Vinicius, covering his mouth with his jersey, the Brazilian forward suddenly pointed at him and ran towards the referee.<\/p>\n

Vinicius was caught on camera telling Letexier that Prestiani had called him a “monkey.” <\/p>\n

The referee immediately stopped the match and Vinicius, who was black, went to the sideline.<\/p>\n

Benfica’s Jose Mourinho and Madrid’s Alvaro Arbeloa both spoke to Vinicius at some point.<\/p>\n

The referee didn’t seem to hear anything and motioned for Prestiani to put his shirt over his mouth. Letexier pulled Prestiani aside and spoke to him. <\/p>\n

The Argentine player was not shown a yellow card and continued to play.<\/p>\n

Vinicius was shown a yellow card after the celebration. The game was restarted in the 60th inning.<\/p>\n

___<\/p>\n

AP Soccer: https:\/\/apnews.com\/hub\/soccer<\/span><\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n


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Source link <\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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