benfica vs real madrid: Vinicius Jr calls out 'racists are cowards' after alleged abuse
Real Madrid winger Vinicius Junior accused a Benfica player of racial abuse during his side's 1-0 Champions League win in Lisbon, forcing a 10-minute stoppage and a tense confrontation that has reshaped headlines ahead of the second leg on 25 February (ET). The forward described racists as "cowards" and criticised how match officials handled the incident.
What happened in Lisbon
The incident occurred shortly after Vinicius had scored the game's only goal five minutes into the second half. After celebrating in front of the home supporters, Vinicius ran to the referee Francois Letexier to report an alleged slur from Benfica midfielder Gianluca Prestianni. Play was halted and players left the pitch as the match followed the anti-racism protocol, producing a stoppage lasting around 10 minutes before the game resumed.
Vinicius, 25, wrote on social media that "racists are, above all, cowards" and questioned the effectiveness of the protocol used by match officials, calling it "poorly executed". He also said he received a yellow card for his celebration and expressed confusion over that booking in the same post.
Denials, club statements and managerial reactions
Prestianni, 20, denied directing racist abuse in a social-media statement, saying he never used racist language and that the complaint stemmed from a misunderstanding. The club posted a video of the incident on its official account and defended its player, arguing that distance made it unlikely Real Madrid players could have heard what they claimed.
Benfica's manager spoke with Vinicius during the stoppage and later suggested he believed the forward's celebration may have provoked a reaction from the home crowd. He pointed to the club's historic figures as evidence that the institution is not racist and urged balance in judging the situation. That stance attracted sharp criticism from opponents and pundits, who argued celebrating a goal should never be met with racial abuse.
Within the Real Madrid camp, teammates and staff expressed strong support for Vinicius. One teammate publicly stated the alleged insult used a racial slur and argued the Benfica player should be barred from the competition. Real Madrid's coach signalled that the team would have stood with Vinicius if he chose to leave the field permanently.
Wider implications and the path ahead
The episode has reignited debate over how football institutions and match officials handle racist incidents. Critics of the handling argued that the protocol did not deliver a clear resolution and that more decisive action is needed to deter abuse. Supporters of stronger measures say matches cannot return to normal until allegations are robustly investigated and sanctions, where warranted, are applied.
Both clubs now face a charged build-up to the second leg on 25 February (ET), with scrutiny likely to focus on how governing bodies review the incident and whether any disciplinary action will follow. The players involved have given conflicting accounts, and investigators will need to weigh video evidence, testimony and the referee's notes to determine what happened and whether it breaches competition rules.
Regardless of the outcome, the episode has underscored the ongoing challenge of eliminating racist abuse from the sport and the pressure on officials to manage such situations swiftly and transparently. The response over the coming days will be watched closely by players, clubs and fans ahead of the decisive return fixture.
