A serious incident overshadowed the Champions League match between Benfica and Real Madrid (0–1). In the second half, Vinicius accused Lisbon player Gianluca Prestianni of repeatedly directing racist abuse at him. The Madrid forward said he was called a “monkey,” prompting French referee François Letexier to temporarily stop the match and activate UEFA’s anti-racism protocol.
The scene led to several minutes of tension. Vinicius immediately reported the remarks to the referee, explaining that the words had been repeated and hidden behind a jersey to avoid camera detection. After the match, Kylian Mbappé publicly backed his teammate, saying he heard the insults from the pitch. Clearly angered, the France captain stated that Prestianni “does not deserve to play in the Champions League again,” insisting that players must set an example.
UEFA Investigation and Growing Controversy
For his part, Prestianni denied making any racist insult but admitted to using a homophobic slur, a defense that further fueled the controversy. Other players confirmed that a serious verbal exchange took place, though without validating every reported word.
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Vinicius later responded on social media: “Racists are above all cowards. They need to put their shirt in front of their mouth to show how weak they are. But they benefit from the protection of other people who, in theory, have the duty to punish them,” he wrote, also regretting that his report to referee François Letexier resulted in “a poorly executed protocol that was useless. I don’t like finding myself in this kind of situation, especially after a big win when the headlines should be about Real Madrid. But it’s necessary.” The case is expected to continue, as the referee must submit an official report and UEFA’s disciplinary committee will review the file and decide on possible sanctions.
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