UEFA has appointed an ethics and disciplinary inspector to research allegations of a racist slur directed at Actual Madrid ahead Vinícius Júnior throughout Tuesday’s Champions League playoff match at Benfica.
Vinícius scored the one objective within the first leg on the Estádio da Luz, however throughout his celebration, he grew to become embroiled in a spat with Benfica gamers, together with Gianluca Prestianni, accusing the Argentinian midfielder of racial abuse.
The sport was paused for 10 minutes after the referee initiated UEFA’s anti-racism protocol.
The 20-year-old ahead faces a possible 10-match ban if discovered responsible of racial abuse in UEFA’s disciplinary code.
“A UEFA Ethics and Disciplinary Inspector has been appointed to research allegations of discriminatory behaviour through the UEFA Champions League 2025/2026 knockout playoff between Membership Benfica and Actual Madrid CF on 17 February 2026,” a UEFA assertion stated.
FIFA president Gianni Infantino stated he was “shocked and saddened to see the incident of alleged racism” and praised the referee for activating the anti-racism protocol.
“There may be completely no room for racism in our sport and in society,” Infantino stated on social media. “We’d like all of the related stakeholders to take motion and maintain these accountable to account.”
Prestianni, 20, denied Vinicius’ allegations on social media, stating that the Brazil worldwide “misinterpreted what he thinks he heard.”
Madrid’s Kylian Mbappé stated he heard Prestianni name Vinícius a “monkey” 5 instances.
Sources advised ESPN that Vinícius is effectively and could be very grateful for the help he has obtained from his membership and teammates, significantly Mbappé, who was one of many first Madrid gamers to return to Vinícius’ protection.
The French star was captured shortly after the alleged episode by Spanish TV Movistar+ cameras confronting Prestianni on the pitch and accusing him of racism.
Chatting with reporters after the sport, Mbappé stated he “actually harm for Vinícius” whereas demanded that motion be taken towards Prestianni.
– Seedorf on Mourinho’s Vinícius response: Mistake to justify racial abuse
– Trent Alexander-Arnold requires ‘justice’ after Vinícius Jr. racism accusation
– Kylian Mbappé: ‘I heard’ racist abuse of Vinícius Júnior
Benfica, in the meantime, argued that Madrid gamers couldn’t have heard alleged racist abuse due to the noise on the stadium and the space between the gamers.
Former Benfica captain Luisão was amongst those who criticized the Portuguese workforce’s stance.
Benfica tackle Madrid on the Bernabéu within the return leg on Feb. 25 needing to overturn a 1-0 first-leg deficit.
Data from ESPN’s Gustavo Hofman and The Related Press contributed to this report.
