Real Madrid send ‘all available’ Vinicius evidence to UEFA in racism row

Real Madrid has submitted evidence to UEFA regarding alleged racist abuse directed at their player, Vinicius Jr., during a Champions League match against Benfica on February 19, 2026. The incident reportedly occurred after Vinicius scored the winning goal and was celebrating near the Benfica corner flag. Vinicius accused Benfica's Gianluca Prestianni of calling him a "monkey," which Prestianni denies. UEFA has launched an investigation into the matter, appointing a special investigator to gather evidence in Lisbon, where the match took place. Real Madrid expressed support for Vinicius and a commitment to eradicating racism, while Benfica defended Prestianni, claiming he is the victim of defamation and welcoming the UEFA investigation.

Liverpool manager Arne Slot has called for more action against racism in football following an incident where Real Madrid's Vinicius Junior accused Benfica's Gianluca Prestianni of racist abuse during a Champions League playoff match on Tuesday. UEFA is reviewing the incident, which halted the game for 11 minutes. Slot stated that the football community must strive to exceed societal efforts in combating racism, emphasizing the importance of immediate reporting and referee intervention. He made these comments on Thursday, ahead of Liverpool's Premier League match against Nottingham Forest on Sunday. Slot also anticipates tactical changes from Nottingham Forest under their new manager, Vitor Pereira, who replaced Sean Dyche.

UEFA is investigating allegations of racist abuse made by Real Madrid's Vinicius Junior against Benfica's Gianluca Prestianni during a Champions League match in Lisbon on Tuesday, February 18, 2026. The match was temporarily halted after Vinicius complained to the referee that Prestianni called him "mono," the Spanish word for monkey, following a confrontation. Prestianni denies the accusation. The incident occurred after Vinicius scored the winning goal in the match. Several Real Madrid players, including Trent Alexander-Arnold and Kylian Mbappe, have condemned the alleged abuse and called for action against Prestianni. UEFA confirmed the investigation on Wednesday.

During a Champions League match between Benfica and Real Madrid, the game was temporarily halted after Vinicius Jr. reported alleged racist abuse. UEFA has launched an investigation into Benfica midfielder Gianluca Prestianni, who is accused of directing the abuse. Prestianni denies the allegations, and Benfica is supporting him, claiming a "defamation campaign" and suggesting Real Madrid players couldn't have heard the alleged comments. Benfica defends its history of inclusion, citing Eusebio as an example. Anti-discrimination charity Kick It Out criticized Benfica's and Mourinho's reactions, stating they should cooperate with the investigation instead of defending the player without knowing the facts. If found guilty, Prestianni could face a minimum 10-match ban from European competition.

Real Madrid's Champions League match against Benfica was temporarily stopped for 10 minutes after Vinicius Junior reported alleged racist abuse from Benfica's Gianluca Prestianni to the referee, Francois Letexier, who signaled the alleged abuse. The incident occurred after Vinicius scored and was booked for his celebration. Vinicius and his Real Madrid teammates left the field in protest before returning to play. Real Madrid won the match 1-0, but the game was marred by the alleged abuse and an object thrown from the crowd that hit Vinicius. Vinicius condemned the incident on Instagram, while Prestianni denied the allegations and expressed regret for the threats he received.