Vinicius claims racist abuse from Prestianni as UCL clash halted by protocol
Tensions boiled over at the Estádio da Luz as referee Letexier activated UEFA's anti-racism protocol following allegations made by Real Madrid's Brazilian star.
Champions League clash marred by serious racism allegations as referee activates official protocol following Vinicius Jr’s complaint against Benfica youngster Prestianni.
Incident Sparks Chaos
What should have been a cracking European night at the Estádio da Luz descended into controversy on the 50-minute mark when French referee François Letexier was forced to halt proceedings and activate UEFA’s anti-racism protocol.
The drama kicked off after Vinicius Jr had just scored an absolute worldie for Real Madrid and celebrated with his trademark dance in the corner. This celebration didn’t go down well with the ref, who first warned the Brazilian and then showed him a yellow card when he protested.
Things turned proper nasty when:
- Objects rained down from the Benfica stands
- Several Madrid players confronted the home supporters about their behaviour
- Benfica players, including Argentine youngster Gianluca Prestianni, approached Vinicius
It was during this confrontation that Vinicius sprinted towards Letexier, reportedly claiming that Prestianni had called him a “monkey” – a serious racist slur that prompted the referee to cross his arms in an “X” shape, officially activating UEFA’s anti-racism protocol.
Tensions Boil Over
The stadium atmosphere turned absolutely toxic. Antonio Rüdiger and Arda Güler attempted to remove Vinicius from the situation while Kylian Mbappé was having his own heated exchange with Benfica’s Nicolás Otamendi.
Vinicius headed to the bench making gestures suggesting he might leave the pitch. Benfica manager José Mourinho – no stranger to a bit of drama himself – grabbed the Brazilian for a lengthy conversation while television cameras rewound the footage, showing Prestianni covering his mouth with his shirt just before the incident.
Match Eventually Resumes
After approximately ten minutes of tension, with Madrid coach Álvaro Arbeloa trying to calm his player, the match finally resumed. The atmosphere remained charged, with every touch from Vinicius and Mbappé met with hostile roars from the crowd.
When Prestianni was later substituted for Dodi Lukebakio, the Benfica faithful gave him a standing ovation – a telling reaction given the circumstances.
Ironically, pre-match stories had revealed that Prestianni actually had a photo with Vinicius as his phone wallpaper, taken during their previous meeting in the group stage. What had seemed like a charming anecdote has now taken on a much darker dimension.