Real Madrid’s Champions League knockout round play-off match at Benfica was halted for 10 minutes after Vinicius Junior refused to play following comments made by Benfica’s Gianluca Prestiani.
When Vinicius Junior gave Real the lead, Prestiani pulled his shirt up over his mouth and spoke to the Madrid striker.
Vinicius Jr ran to speak to match referee Francois Letexier, who immediately stopped the match.
Following Vinicius Jr’s protests, the referee responded by crossing his arms in front of his face, activating FIFA’s anti-racism protocol and temporarily stopping the match.
Vinicius Jr says he wants to look like Francois Letexier after Benfica’s Gianluca Prestianni commented on him.
Benfica manager Jose Mourinho was pictured trying to console a visibly upset Vinicius Junior, with the Benfica coaching staff receiving a red card during the lengthy stoppage.
After discussions between players, coaches, and referees, the game resumed.
Real Madrid won 1-0, with Mourinho also sent off in a separate incident, but there was a brief delay as fans threw objects when Vinicius Jr. attempted a corner kick late in stoppage time.
“Racists are, above all, cowards,” Vinicius Jr. wrote on his Instagram Story after the game.
“They have to cover their mouths with their shirts to show how weak they are.
“But they protect other people who they theoretically have a duty to punish. What happened here today was nothing new in my life and the lives of my family.
“I got a yellow card for celebrating a goal. I still don’t know why. On the other hand, poorly implemented protocols just didn’t help. I don’t like appearing in situations like this, especially when the headlines are about Real Madrid after a big win. But it’s necessary.”
Prestianni has not yet commented on the incident.
Benfica v Real Madrid was delayed by 10 minutes due to accidents involving Vinicius Junior and Gianluca Prestiani.
Vinicius Junior’s teammate Trent Alexander-Arnold said: amazon prime After the game: “I can’t comment in detail, probably because the investigation is ongoing.
“What happened tonight is a disgrace to the world of football, especially after such an incredible goal was scored.”
“Vinny has experienced this many times throughout his career. That has no place in football or in society. It is disgusting.”
Benfica coach Mourinho also had a conversation. amazon primeAlthough he claimed Vinicius Jr had incited the crowd and players due to the way he celebrated, he said he wanted to be “independent” about the incident because Vinicius Jr and Prestianni “told him different things”.
Mourinho said: “I told him (Vinicius Junior): When you score a goal like that, congratulate yourself and take a step back. When he argued about racism, I told him that the greatest man in the history of this club (Eusebio) is black.”
“This club is really racist.”
Referee Francois Letexier crossed his arms, activated anti-racism protocols and temporarily halted play.
Real Madrid coach Alvaro Arbeloa said. amazon prime: “You have to ask the Benfica players (about).
“Everyone knows what happened to Prestiani. He had his shirt over his mouth. You have to ask him.”
“It doesn’t matter what Vinny said, we have to fight racism in football. Of course we support Vinny.”
Alexander-Arnold said this about the object thrown at Vinicius II: “It’s a hostile environment. Maybe they were upset with Vinny’s way of celebrating. I don’t know what made them do that. Like I said, it’s a hostile environment. We’re used to it as a team. We win and go home and play again.”
Vinicius Jnr has previously spoken about the repeated racist abuse he suffered, and said in 2024 that the abuse had left him feeling “less and less in the mood” to play football. That same year, three Valencia fans were sentenced to eight months in prison for racially abusing him during a match in May 2023.
Meanwhile, in Spain, in an ‘unprecedented’ ruling, five people were sentenced to suspended sentences in 2025 for racially abusing Vinicius. The incident occurred during a match between Real Madrid and Real Valladolid in September 2022.
‘Shocking, shameful and upsetting’
Daily Mirror football journalist John Cross told Back Pages tonight:
“It’s absolutely shocking and disgraceful. I’m completely upset. I can’t believe football hasn’t solved this problem in 2026. Imagine you’re Vinicius Jnr, a genius and who has just scored an incredible goal.
“This should shine a light on the light and shameful football. Strong action must be taken against the perpetrators. In a World Cup year, a strong message must be sent.”
