Real Madrid forward Vinícius Júnior accused Benfica’s Gianluca Prestianni of directing a racial slur toward him during their UEFA Champions League playoff on Tuesday, according to a report from the Spanish newspaper AS. The incident occurred shortly after the Brazilian star broke the deadlock at the Estádio da Luz, curling a spectacular effort into the top corner five minutes into the second half to secure a 1-0 advantage for the visitors. The goal sparked an immediate 11-minute disruption as Vinícius sprinted to referee François Letexier to report the abuse following a heated confrontation with the Argentine winger.
The tension began when Vinícius Júnior celebrated his decisive strike by dancing in front of the Benfica home supporters near the corner flag. This action visibly provoked the hosts, leading Letexier to issue a yellow card to the Madrid forward for his role in the escalating friction. In response to the celebration, several fans in the Lisbon crowd hurled projectiles at the 25-year-old, further fueling a chaotic on-field brawl between the two squads.
During the scrum, Vinícius Júnior focused his complaint on Prestianni, who appeared to cover his mouth with his jersey while addressing the Madrid star. After a brief consultation, referee François Letexier raised his arms in a cross—the official UEFA gesture to signal the activation of the anti-racism protocol. While the precise nature of the exchange remains under investigation, AS reports that Vinícius accused the Argentine player of calling him a “monkey.”
Kylian Mbappé further corroborated the claims after the match, stating that he heard the slur directed at his teammate multiple times. Although Vinícius Júnior initially sat on the Madrid bench in a show of protest while fans cheered his departure, he eventually returned to the pitch to complete the match. The fallout from the incident extended to the sidelines, where a member of the Benfica coaching staff received a straight red card for his involvement in the fray.
In the final minutes of the spiky encounter, Benfica manager José Mourinho also received a red card for his vociferous protests against the match officials. This dismissal ensures that the veteran coach will miss the high-stakes return leg at the Santiago Bernabéu next Wednesday due to an automatic suspension. UEFA confirmed on Wednesday that it has appointed a disciplinary inspector to evaluate the evidence and determine if sanctions are necessary.
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