UEFA has formally initiated an investigation into serious allegations of racist behaviour during a high-stakes Champions League play-off match between Benfica and Real Madrid. The governing body confirmed the appointment of an Ethics and Disciplinary Inspector to examine claims that Benfica player Gianluca Prestianni directed a racial slur at Real Madrid forward Vinicius Jr during the second half of the encounter on 17 February 2026.
Match Halted Under Anti-Racism Protocol
The fixture was suspended for eleven minutes, in accordance with UEFA's established three-step anti-racism protocol. The stoppage occurred after Vinicius Jr reported that Prestianni had made a comment he interpreted as a racist insult. Several Real Madrid players, including star forward Kylian Mbappe, publicly stated they heard the alleged discriminatory remark.
Conflicting Accounts and On-Field Drama
Prestianni, who was seen covering his mouth with his shirt while speaking to Vinicius, has vehemently denied the accusation. On his Instagram account, the Benfica player asserted, "I was never racist with anyone and I regret the threats I received from Real Madrid players." He suggested the Brazilian international had misheard him.
The incident unfolded after Vinicius celebrated scoring the opening goal by running towards the corner flag. He received a yellow card from referee Francois Letexier for what was deemed excessive celebration directed at Benfica supporters. Shortly thereafter, the exchange with Prestianni occurred, prompting Vinicius to immediately alert the match official.
Strong Reactions from Players and Officials
Vinicius later posted on Instagram, "Racists are, above all, cowards. They need to put their shirts in their mouths to show how weak they are." His teammate Kylian Mbappe provided a detailed account in the post-match mixed zone, stating, "He put his shirt down here and said 'monkey, monkey, monkey, monkey, monkey'. I heard him say it, and some Benfica players heard him too."
Real Madrid captain Federico Valverde expressed frustration to Movistar Plus, noting, "It is unbelievable that, with dozens of cameras in the stadium, none could have caught the racial slur, but if you cover your mouth to say something, that says a lot. According to my teammates who were close, they heard something very ugly."
Club Responses and Managerial Sent-Off
Benfica issued a statement on social media platform X refuting the claims, arguing, "As the images demonstrate, given the distance, the Real Madrid players could not have heard what they claim to have heard." Meanwhile, Benfica manager Jose Mourinho was sent off during the match for protesting to the fourth official and demanding a second yellow card for Vinicius following a later foul.
Mourinho, while attempting to remain "independent," criticised Vinicius's goal celebration, saying, "In how many stadiums has this happened? How many? He's an out-of-this-world player, I love him. But you score a goal like this...you leave on your team-mates' shoulders. That's where the game ended."
Calls for Decisive Action
With the return leg scheduled for Wednesday at Real Madrid's home ground, pressure is mounting on UEFA to conduct a thorough review of available evidence. Mbappe was particularly vocal in calling for stringent disciplinary measures, stating, "We cannot accept that a player in the best competition in Europe behaves like this. He does not deserve to play anymore in the Champions League. We will let UEFA act. They have tried to do things, and now there is a serious case. And I hope they do the right thing."
UEFA's statement concluded that further information regarding the investigation would be made available in due course, as football authorities grapple with yet another high-profile allegation of racism in the sport.
