UEFA Investigates Alleged Racism Against Vinicius Jr. During Benfica Match

UEFA has launched a formal investigation into allegations of racist abuse directed at Real Madrid forward Vinicius Júnior during Tuesday’s Champions League knockout round play-off first leg against Benfica in Lisbon. The incident occurred after Vinicius scored the only goal of the match, prompting a complaint to the referee, François Letexier.

Details of the Allegation

Vinicius Júnior accused Benfica winger Gianluca Prestianni of racially abusing him, alleging Prestianni referred to him using a racial slur. Prestianni reportedly covered his mouth while speaking to Vinicius, leading to the accusation. Prestianni has denied the allegations .

Real Madrid’s Response

Real Madrid has fully cooperated with UEFA’s investigation, submitting “all available evidence” related to the incident . The club released a statement expressing gratitude for the widespread support Vinicius Júnior has received from the global football community and reiterated its commitment to eradicating racism, violence, and hatred in sport and society .

Match Interruption and Protocol

The match was temporarily halted for approximately 10 minutes as the anti-racism protocol was activated following Vinicius’s report. Despite the interruption, Vinicius was issued a yellow card for his goal celebration . Vinicius later expressed his frustration on social media, stating that racists are “cowards” and questioning the application of the protocol.

UEFA’s Investigation

UEFA has appointed an ethics and disciplinary inspector to gather evidence and assess potential violations of its disciplinary regulations . The investigation is ongoing, and a decision on any potential sanctions will be made following a thorough review of the evidence.

Vinicius Jr.’s Previous Experiences

This is not the first instance of Vinicius Júnior being subjected to alleged racist abuse. He has previously faced similar incidents in Spain, highlighting the ongoing issue of racism in football.