A Champions League playoff match between Benfica and Real Madrid was temporarily halted on February 18, 2026, after Real Madrid forward Vinicius Júnior reported experiencing alleged racial abuse from a Benfica player during the game in Lisbon’s Estadio da Luz.
The incident occurred after Vinicius Júnior scored the opening goal in the 50th minute and celebrated in front of Benfica supporters. Objects were thrown at the Real Madrid player, and he received a yellow card for his actions. Following a confrontation with Benfica players, Vinicius Júnior approached the referee, François Letexier, and indicated Benfica’s Gianluca Prestianni as the source of the alleged abuse.
Referee Letexier responded by raising both arms above his head in a crossed-arm gesture – a universal signal adopted by FIFA in 2024 to indicate potential racist abuse on the field. The match was then suspended for approximately 10 minutes as officials investigated the situation. This incident highlights the ongoing challenges of addressing racism in professional sports and its impact on athletes’ well-being.
According to Real Madrid midfielder Aurélien Tchouaméni, “Vini told us that the guy called him a monkey.” Real Madrid’s star forward Kylian Mbappé provided further detail, stating, “I saw very clearly: number 25 said to Vini five times that he was a monkey. Everyone can have their opinion, but this kind of behavior is unacceptable. Playing in the Champions League is wonderful, but this image is terrible for football.”
Mbappé continued, “I called him a racist because I believe he is. He tried to hide behind his shirt, but his face doesn’t lie. This person is not our colleague. A young player cannot freely say that on a football field. What we have is a big problem.”
Prestianni responded to the allegations on his Instagram account late on February 18, 2026, writing, “I aim for to clarify that I never said anything racist to Vinicius Jr., he unfortunately misinterpreted what he thought he heard. I have never been a racist and I am sorry for the threats received from Real Madrid fans.”
Benfica released a video of the incident and stated, “As we can see from the recording, judging by the distance between the players, the Real Madrid players could not have heard what they claim to have heard.”
Following the match, Benfica manager José Mourinho, who was sent off with two yellow cards for protesting, attempted to offer a balanced perspective. “I want to remain more impartial than Álvaro [Arbeloa – Real Madrid manager]. Vini says one thing. I spoke with G. Prestianni, he says another. In football, when it comes to what happens on the field, I always try to stay in the middle. By saying this, I don’t want to say that Vinicius is lying, or that G. Prestianni is a wonderful boy.”
Mourinho added, “This happens in all stadiums and it happens with the same person, so something is wrong. Why do you celebrate like that when you score a goal from another world? Why don’t you celebrate like [Alfredo] Di Stefano, Pelé or Eusebio?”
Mourinho’s comments drew criticism, given his own history of demonstrative goal celebrations. Real Madrid manager Álvaro Arbeloa was more direct, stating, “This is something we have to eradicate from the world of football. If the players don’t sort it out, it will be very tough.”
The incident underscores the need for continued efforts to combat racism in sports and protect athletes from abuse. The use of the FIFA signal and the subsequent investigation demonstrate a commitment to addressing these issues, but further action may be required to ensure a safe and inclusive environment for all players.
