Real Madrid winger Vinicius Junior reported alleged racial abuse by Benfica midfielder Gianluca Prestianni during their 1-0 Champions League win in Lisbon. The match was briefly halted after the incident, with Vinicius calling out racism on social media. Prestianni denied the claims, stating the Brazilian misunderstood what was said, and Benfica defended their player, citing distance and video evidence.

Benfica manager Jose Mourinho said he received conflicting accounts from both players and emphasized that Benfica is not a racist club, referencing legendary striker Eusebio. The incident drew criticism from Real Madrid players, including Trent Alexander-Arnold, and football pundits like Clarence Seedorf and Theo Walcott, who condemned any justification of racial abuse.

UEFA has launched an ethics and disciplinary investigation into the matter. If Prestianni is found guilty, he could face a minimum 10-match ban from European competition, a punishment introduced in 2013 for discriminatory behavior. Team-mate Kylian Mbappe urged UEFA to take strict action, highlighting that such behavior should not be tolerated in top-level European football.

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