Real Madrid’s Champions League knockout play-off tie at Benfica was halted for 10 minutes after Vinicius Jr initially refused to play on following a comment made to him by Benfica’s Gianluca Prestianni.
Vinicius Jr had just given Real the lead when he was confronted by Prestianni, who pulled his shirt up over his mouth before saying something to the Madrid striker.
Vinicius Jr ran to speak to match referee Francois Letexier, who immediately stopped the game.
Following Vinicius Jr’s complaint, the referee responded by crossing his arms in front of his face, activating FIFA’s anti-racism protocol and temporarily stopping the match.
Vinicius Jr speaks to referee Francois Letexier after Benfica’s Gianluca Prestianni appeared to make a comment towards him
Benfica coach Jose Mourinho was seen trying to console a visibly upset Vinicius Jr and a member of the Benfica coaching staff was shown a red card during the lengthy stoppage.
After a number of discussions between players, coaches and the referee, play then resumed.
Real Madrid held on to win 1-0, with Mourinho also sent off for a separate incident, but there was a further short delay late in stoppage time when fans threw objects as Vinicius Jr was attempting to take a corner kick.
“Racists are, above all, cowards,” Vinicius Jr posted on his Instagram story post-match.
“They need to put their shirts over their mouths to demonstrate how weak they are.
“But they have, on their side, the protection of others who, theoretically, have the obligation to punish. Nothing that happened here today was new in my life and my family’s.
“I received a yellow card for celebrating a goal. I still don’t understand why. On the other hand, just a poorly executed protocol that served no purpose. I don’t like appearing in situations like this, even more so after a great victory and when the headlines have to be about Real Madrid, but it’s necessary.”
Prestianni has yet to comment on the incident.
Benfica vs Real Madrid was delayed for 10 minutes after an incident involving Vinicius Jr and Gianluca Prestianni
Vinicius Jr’s team-mate Trent Alexander-Arnold told Amazon Prime after the game: “I can’t comment too much as there is probably an ongoing investigation.
“What’s happened tonight is a disgrace to football. It’s overshadowed the performance, especially after such an amazing goal.
“Vini has been subjected to this a few times throughout his career, there’s no place for it in football or society. It’s disgusting.”
Benfica boss Mourinho also spoke to Amazon Prime, claiming Vinicius Jr incited the crowd and his players due to the manner of his celebration, but said he wanted to “be independent” on the incident as Vinicius Jr and Prestianni “told him different things”.
Mourinho said: “I told [Vinicius Jr] – when you score a goal like that, you just celebrate and walk back. When he was arguing about racism, I told him the biggest person [Eusebio] in the history of this club was black.
“This club, the last thing that it is, is racist.”
Referee Francois Letexier crosses his arms to activate the anti-racism protocol and temporarily stop the match
Real Madrid coach Alvaro Arbeloa told Amazon Prime: “You have to ask Benfica’s players [about it].
“Everyone can see what happened with Prestianni, he put the shirt over his mouth. You have to ask him.
“What Vini said is not important, we need to fight against racism in football. We support Vini of course.”
On the objects thrown at Vinicius Jr, Alexander-Arnold said: “It’s a hostile environment, maybe they were upset with the way Vini celebrated. I don’t know what set them off like that. Like I said, hostile environment. We are used to it as a team. We take the win, go back home and play again.”
Vinicius Jnr has spoken out previously about repeated racist abuse he has suffered, saying in 2024 that he felt “less and less” like playing football because of the abuse. In that same year, three Valencia fans were sentenced to eight months in prison for racially abusing him at a match in May 2023.
Meanwhile, five people were handed suspended prison sentences in 2025 for racially abusing Vinicius in an “unprecedented” ruling in Spain. The incident occurred during Real Madrid’s match against Real Valladolid in September 2022.
‘Shocking, disgraceful, upsetting’
Daily Mirror football journalist John Cross speaking on Back Pages Tonight:
“It’s truly shocking and disgraceful – completely upsetting. I can’t believe in 2026 that football hasn’t got a handle on this. Imagine if you are Vinicius Jnr – a genius and who has just scored an incredible goal.
“This should shine a light and shame football. Strong action must be taken against the perpetrators. In a World Cup year a strong message has to be sent out.”
