Champions League Match Halted Over Alleged Racism

A Champions League knockout phase play-off tie between Benfica and Real Madrid was halted for 10 minutes after Real Madrid's Vinicius Junior reported alleged racist abuse by Benfica's Gianluca Prestianni. Vinicius had scored the only goal of the match in the 50th minute. The referee, Francois Letexier, made the crossed arms gesture to signal racist abuse and the Real Madrid players left the field. The match resumed after 10 minutes and Real Madrid won 1-0 after 12 minutes of stoppage time. Vinicius later released a statement on Instagram condemning the incident, while Prestianni denied directing racist abuse towards Vinicius.

A UEFA Champions League match between Real Madrid and Benfica was halted for nearly 10 minutes after Real Madrid forward Vinícius Júnior accused Benfica player Gianluca Prestianni of racially insulting him. The incident occurred after Vinícius celebrated his goal by dancing near the Benfica corner flag, prompting angry reactions from Benfica fans. Vinícius claimed that Prestianni called him 'monkey' while covering his mouth with his jersey. The referee stopped the match and initiated the anti-racism protocol. Benfica players denied that Prestianni used racist language, while Real Madrid players defended Vinícius. The match resumed after the stoppage, with Vinícius being jeered by the home crowd. The incident sparked reactions from various stakeholders, including the Brazilian soccer confederation, which expressed solidarity with Vinícius.

A Champions League match between Real Madrid and Benfica was halted for 11 minutes after Real Madrid's Vinicius Junior alleged that he was subjected to racial abuse by Benfica's Gianluca Prestianni. The incident occurred shortly after Vinicius scored a goal and celebrated by dancing in front of the corner flag, prompting some Benfica players to confront him. The referee, Francois Letexier, stopped the game after Vinicius reported the alleged abuse, and FIFA's anti-racism protocol was activated. Vinicius has spoken out against racism in football, stating that racists are 'cowards' and that the protocol enforced by the referee 'serves no purpose.' The incident has sparked widespread condemnation, with teammate Trent Alexander-Arnold calling it a 'disgrace to football.' Benfica manager Jose Mourinho's comments on the incident drew criticism, with former Real Madrid midfielder Clarence Seedorf accusing him of justifying racial abuse.