Real Madrid’s Champions League Tie Paused After Vinícius Accuses Benfica Player of Racial Slur
Updated (3 articles)
Alleged Slur Triggers Ten‑Minute Halt In the 52nd minute of the Tuesday night Champions League play‑off at Benfica, Real Madrid forward Vinícius Júnior reported that Argentine winger Gianluca Prestianni called him “monkey,” prompting French referee François Letexier to display FIFA’s crossed‑arms anti‑racism signal and suspend play for roughly ten minutes [1][2][3]. The protocol, introduced in May 2024, allows referees to halt matches when racist conduct is alleged [3]. Play resumed after the pause, and Real maintained their 1‑0 lead.
Real Madrid Squad Reacts With Outrage Real Madrid players condemned the alleged abuse, with Trent Alexander‑Arnold calling the episode a “disgrace to football” and Kylian Mbappé urging UEFA to ban Prestianni from the competition [1][2]. Midfielder Federico Valverde praised teammates who defended Vinícius, while defender Aurélien Tchouaméni said the squad briefly considered leaving the pitch [1]. The team’s unified stance highlighted growing intolerance for racism in European football.
Mourinho’s Celebration Critique Fuels Controversy Benfica manager José Mourinho criticised Vinícius’s goal celebration as disrespectful, invoked black legend Eusébio, and suggested the player repeatedly provokes fans, stopping short of endorsing the alleged slur [1][2]. His comments triggered immediate backlash, with former Real midfielder Clarence Seedorf labeling the remarks a “big mistake” and former England internationals Theo Walcott and Thierry Henry demanding swift UEFA action [2]. The dispute amplified the match’s off‑field tension.
Social Media and On‑Field Sanctions Follow Vinícius posted an Instagram message denouncing the incident as cowardly racism, while the Brazilian Football Confederation praised his courage on X [1]. During the remainder of the game, a bottle was thrown at Vinícius and Mourinho received a red card in the 86th minute for confronting the referee over unrelated decisions [1]. The episode underscored the volatile atmosphere inside Benfica’s stadium.
Conflicting Accounts From Player and Club Benfica and Prestianni denied any racist intent, describing the comment as a routine provocation and asserting that no slur was uttered, with midfielder Leandro Barreiro confirming the claim [1]. Prestianni later said he faced threats after the match, whereas Vinícius maintained that the abuse occurred and highlighted similar past incidents [3]. The divergent narratives remain unresolved pending UEFA’s investigation.
Sources
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1.
CNN: Champions League Match Halted After Vinícius Júnior Claims Racial Insult at Benfica: details the alleged slur, player and coach reactions, Mourinho’s criticism, and post‑match fallout including a red card and fan hostility.
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2.
BBC: Mourinho’s Comments Spark Outcry After Vinicius Racism Allegation Halts Champions League Match: emphasizes Mourinho’s remarks, condemnation by Seedorf, Walcott and Henry, and calls for immediate UEFA action.
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3.
BBC: Real Madrid walk off after Vinicius reports racist abuse at Benfica: provides the timeline of the stoppage, Vinícius’s goal, object thrown, Prestianni’s denial, and background on UEFA’s anti‑racism protocol.
Timeline
2009 – UEFA adopts a three‑step anti‑racism protocol that authorises referees to halt or abandon matches when racist behaviour persists, establishing the procedural basis for later interventions. [1]
May 2024 – FIFA introduces the crossed‑arms hand signal for racism, which referees later use to indicate alleged abuse on the field. [1]
Feb 17, 2026 – Vinícius Júnior scores in the 50th minute, giving Real Madrid a 1‑0 lead in the Champions League play‑off at Benfica. [1]
Feb 17, 2026 – Vinícius alleges that Benfica winger Gianluca Prestianni called him a “monkey,” prompting referee François Letexier to display the FIFA crossed‑arms signal and pause the game for nearly ten minutes under the UEFA anti‑racism protocol. [1][3]
Feb 17, 2026 – Real Madrid players exit the pitch and briefly consider abandoning the match before deciding to resume play after the stoppage. [3]
Feb 17, 2026 – An object thrown from the crowd strikes Vinícius on the arm during extra‑time, yet Real Madrid maintain their 1‑0 advantage. [1]
Feb 17, 2026 – The match resumes and finishes 1‑0 to Real Madrid after 12 minutes of added time. [1]
Feb 17, 2026 – Referee Letexier issues a red card to Benfica manager José Mourinho for confronting him about earlier card decisions. [3]
Feb 18, 2026 – Vinícius posts on Instagram denouncing the abuse, calling racists “cowards” and criticizing the protocol that halted the game. [1]
Feb 18, 2026 – Prestianni denies ever using a racist slur, says he receives threats he attributes to Real Madrid players, and maintains his comments were a routine provocation. [1]
Feb 18, 2026 – Mourinho publicly criticises Vinícius’s goal celebration as disrespectful, invokes black legend Eusébio to argue Benfica is not a racist club, and suggests the player provokes the crowd. [2][3]
Feb 18, 2026 – Former Real Madrid midfielder Clarence Seedorf calls Mourinho’s remarks a “big mistake,” condemning any implication that the player provoked the abuse. [2]
Feb 18, 2026 – England right‑back Trent Alexander‑Arnold describes the incident as “a disgrace to football.” [2][3]
Feb 18, 2026 – Real Madrid forward Kylian Mbappé urges UEFA to ban Prestianni from the Champions League for the alleged racist behaviour. [2]
Feb 18, 2026 – Former England internationals Theo Walcott and Thierry Henry demand immediate UEFA action, citing their own experiences of racist abuse on the field. [2]
Feb 18, 2026 – Benfica midfielder Leandro Barreiro confirms Prestianni told teammates he said nothing racist, directly contradicting Vinícius’s claim. [3]
Feb 18, 2026 – Referee Letexier uses the stadium’s loudspeakers to warn fans against throwing objects after a bottle hits Vinícius, underscoring the volatile atmosphere. [3]