Benfica vs Real Madrid paused under anti-racism protocol after Vinicius Jr complaint
Match halted after complaint and protocol activation
Real Madrid’s Champions League knockout play-off tie at Benfica was halted for around 10 minutes after Vinicius Jr reported that he had been the target of an alleged racist comment. The stoppage came shortly after the forward had scored the only goal of the match in a 1-0 win for Madrid, an incident that ultimately shaped much of the post-match discussion.
The referee, Francois Letexier, stopped play after Vinicius Jr approached him to make a complaint. Letexier then crossed his arms in front of his face, the signal used to activate FIFA’s anti-racism protocol, and the match was temporarily paused while the situation was addressed on the pitch.
The on-field exchange involving Gianluca Prestianni
The flashpoint occurred after Vinicius Jr had given Real Madrid a 1-0 lead. Following the goal, he celebrated in front of Benfica supporters and was booked for the celebration. Moments later, Benfica’s Gianluca Prestianni confronted him. During the exchange, Prestianni pulled his shirt up over his mouth before saying something to the Madrid forward.
Vinicius Jr then ran to the referee to report what he believed had been said. The referee’s immediate intervention and the subsequent use of the anti-racism protocol led to a lengthy pause as players, coaching staff and officials held a series of discussions.
What happened during the 10-minute stoppage
As the match remained stopped, there were visible conversations between players and staff from both sides. Benfica coach Jose Mourinho was seen speaking to a visibly upset Vinicius Jr. During the stoppage, a member of the Benfica coaching staff was shown a red card.
After multiple discussions involving the referee, players and coaching staff, play eventually resumed. Real Madrid then held on to win 1-0, although the match did not end without further incident.
Late delay as objects were thrown
There was another short delay late in stoppage time when fans threw objects as Vinicius Jr was preparing to take a corner kick. The match ultimately concluded with Real Madrid protecting their one-goal advantage.
Vinicius Jr’s post-match message
After the game, Vinicius Jr posted a statement in Portuguese on his Instagram story. In it, he described racists as “cowards” and criticised the way the situation had been handled on the night.
He wrote: “Racists are, above all, cowards. They need to put their shirts over their mouths to demonstrate how weak they are.” He also argued that those responsible are protected by others “who, theoretically, have the obligation to punish.”
Vinicius Jr added that what happened was “nothing new” for him and his family, and questioned why he received a yellow card for celebrating his goal. He described the response as “just a poorly executed protocol that served no purpose,” while also saying he did not like being in such situations, particularly after what he called a great victory.
Prestianni denies making racist comments
In a statement in Portuguese posted on Instagram and shared by Benfica on social media, Prestianni denied making racist comments. He said Vinicius Jr had misunderstood what he believed he heard.
Prestianni wrote: “I want to clarify that at no time did I direct racist insults to Vini Jr, who regrettably misunderstood what he thought he heard. I was never racist with anyone and I regret the threats I received from Real Madrid players.”
Benfica also posted footage of the incident on social media with the message: “As the images demonstrate, given the distance, the Real Madrid players could not have heard what they claim to have heard.”
Mourinho’s comments and the debate around provocation
After the match, Benfica coach Jose Mourinho suggested that Vinicius Jr had provoked the abuse with his celebration. He said he had advised the forward to celebrate and return to his position, adding that the two players involved told him “different things.” He said he did not want to take sides, stating: “But I don’t believe in one or another. I want to be an independent.”
Mourinho also said he told Vinicius Jr that “the biggest person in the history of this club was black,” referring to Eusebio, and added: “This club, the last thing that it is, is racist.”
He then appeared to reference previous incidents involving Vinicius Jr, saying: “There is something wrong because it happens in every stadium. A stadium where Vinicius plays something happens, always.”
Clarence Seedorf criticises the framing of the issue
Former Real Madrid midfielder Clarence Seedorf, working as a pundit, criticised Mourinho’s comments. Seedorf said: “I think he made a big mistake today to justify racial abuse and I’m not saying that was the case today but he mentioned something more than today.”
He added that suggesting racism could be a response to provocation was unacceptable: “He said wherever he goes these things happen, so he’s saying it’s OK when Vinicius provokes you, that is it OK to be racist and I think that is very wrong. We should never, ever justify racial abuse.”
Real Madrid reaction: ‘No place for it’
Real Madrid players and staff also addressed the situation after the final whistle, while noting the likelihood of an investigation. Trent Alexander-Arnold said he could not comment too much “as there is probably an ongoing investigation,” but called what happened “a disgrace to football.”
He added: “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.”
Madrid coach Alvaro Arbeloa said: “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.” Arbeloa added: “What Vini said is not important, we need to fight against racism in football. We support Vini of course.”
Corner incident and the atmosphere inside the stadium
Asked about the objects thrown during the late corner-kick delay, Alexander-Arnold described the setting as hostile and suggested the reaction may have been linked to the earlier celebration, while making clear he did not know the specific trigger.
“It’s a hostile environment, maybe they were upset with the way Vini celebrated. I don’t know what set them off like that,” he said. “Like I said, hostile environment. We are used to it as a team. We take the win, go back home and play again.”
Context: Vinicius Jr and repeated incidents
The stoppage in Lisbon came against the background of Vinicius Jr speaking out repeatedly about racist abuse he has faced in stadiums. The Brazilian has previously said he has felt “less and less” like playing football because of such abuse.
In June 2024, three Valencia fans were jailed for eight months for racially abusing him during a LaLiga game the previous year, described as the first verdict of its kind in Spain. The wider legal context has continued to evolve: five people were later handed suspended prison sentences in 2025 for racially abusing Vinicius in what was described as an “unprecedented” ruling in Spain, relating to an incident during Real Madrid’s match against Real Valladolid in September 2022.
What the incident shows about protocols and enforcement
The match at Benfica highlighted both the visibility and the limits of existing in-game procedures. The referee’s decision to activate FIFA’s anti-racism protocol was immediate once the complaint was made, and the signal was clear to players and spectators that the allegation was being treated seriously enough to stop the match.
At the same time, Vinicius Jr’s post-match remarks suggested frustration with what he viewed as a process that did not deliver consequences in the moment. His criticism focused on the contrast between his own yellow card for celebrating and what he believed was an inadequate response to the allegation that had triggered the stoppage.
Key points from the night
Real Madrid’s match at Benfica was halted for around 10 minutes after Vinicius Jr reported an alleged racist comment.
The referee activated FIFA’s anti-racism protocol by crossing his arms in front of his face.
The allegation followed an exchange with Benfica’s Gianluca Prestianni, who pulled his shirt over his mouth while speaking.
Vinicius Jr had scored to make it 1-0 and was booked for celebrating in front of Benfica fans.
During the stoppage, a member of Benfica’s coaching staff was shown a red card, and Jose Mourinho was seen speaking to Vinicius Jr.
Real Madrid won 1-0, though there was a further brief delay late on when objects were thrown as Vinicius Jr prepared to take a corner.
Prestianni denied making racist comments, saying Vinicius Jr misunderstood what he thought he heard.
Clarence Seedorf criticised comments he felt risked justifying racial abuse, while Madrid figures stressed there is no place for racism in football.
Football’s broader challenge
With two competing accounts from the players at the centre of the exchange, the night underscored how quickly matches can be consumed by allegations that go beyond the scoreline. For Real Madrid, the victory secured the immediate sporting objective, but much of the focus shifted to the stoppage, the protocol response, and the arguments that followed.
The incident also re-emphasised how often Vinicius Jr has been placed at the centre of football’s ongoing struggle with racism, a subject that continues to spark debate not only about punishment and prevention but also about language, responsibility and the dangers of framing abuse as a reaction to anything that happens on the pitch.