Lisbon: UEFA has announced it will investigate allegations of discriminatory behavior following a Champions League match in which Real Madrid forward Vinicius Junior accused Benfica midfielder Gianluca Prestianni of racially abusing him.
The incident occurred during Tuesday’s first leg of the knockout play-off in Lisbon. The match was temporarily halted for over 10 minutes after Vinicius approached French referee Francois Letexier, claiming that Prestianni had called him “mono” — the Spanish word for monkey — during a confrontation on the field.
Vinicius had scored the only goal of the match in the 50th minute, giving Real Madrid a 1-0 victory. He later received a yellow card after celebrating in front of Benfica’s home crowd at the Estadio da Luz, which reportedly sparked tension with some fans and players.
Prestianni, 20, denied any racial abuse, though footage showed him covering his mouth while appearing to speak to Vinicius.
The incident drew strong reactions from players and football authorities. Real Madrid full-back Trent Alexander-Arnold described the alleged abuse as “disgusting” and a “disgrace for football,” adding that it had “ruined the night for the team.” Real forward Kylian Mbappe called for Prestianni to be banned, stating, “This guy doesn’t deserve to play in the Champions League again.”
Meanwhile, Benfica coach Jose Mourinho criticized Vinicius for provoking the home crowd with his goal celebration. British anti-discrimination group Kick It Out condemned Mourinho’s comments, calling them “gaslighting” and emphasizing that reports of discrimination should be taken seriously and victims supported.
French midfielder Aurelien Tchouameni confirmed that Vinicius had informed the referee about the alleged racial slur. UEFA’s investigation is expected to determine whether disciplinary action will be taken against Prestianni.
This controversy highlights ongoing concerns over racism in European football and the need for stricter enforcement of anti-discrimination protocols.
