Benfica have been fined €40,000 and handed a suspended partial stadium closure by UEFA after fans were found guilty of racist behaviour during their Champions League clash with Real Madrid last month. The incident involved Brazilian winger Vinicius Jr accusing Benfica's Gianluca Prestianni of using racist language.
UEFA's disciplinary panel also imposed a €25,000 fine for throwing objects and €8,000 for use of a laser pointer. Assistant coach Pedro Luis Ferreira Machado received a one-match suspension for unsporting conduct. The stadium closure, covering 500 seats in sectors 10 and 11, is suspended for a probationary period of one year.
Benfica lost the playoff round 3-1 on aggregate to Real Madrid. The club issued a statement categorically denying that Prestianni had admitted to using a racial slur, saying he apologised to teammates for the incident's consequences but maintained he is not racist.
Benfica boss Jose Mourinho had previously said he did not believe either player's account, adding that the club's history with black legend Eusebio meant it could not be racist.
