prestianni exchange halts Benfica v Real Madrid after Vinicius alleges racist abuse
Real Madrid left Lisbon with a 1-0 first-leg advantage in the Champions League knockout playoff, but the victory was overshadowed when Vinicius Junior alleged racial abuse after his match-winning goal and an exchange with Benfica winger Gianluca Prestianni prompted a temporary stoppage.
Match action and the moment that stopped play
Vinicius produced a spectacular curling strike in the 50th minute to break the deadlock at the Estadio da Luz, finding the top corner past Anatoliy Trubin and giving the visitors the lead. The Brazil forward was booked for an animated celebration at the corner flag, and tensions escalated after a confrontation with Prestianni.
Following the interaction, Vinicius approached referee Francois Letexier and indicated he had been racially abused. The referee responded with the crossed-arms gesture that triggers the anti-racism protocol introduced by FIFA in May 2024. Vinicius and his team-mates left the pitch, and play was paused for roughly 10–11 minutes before the contest resumed. The interruption contributed to an extended stoppage-time spell; Real ultimately closed out a hard-fought 1-0 win after 12 minutes of added time.
Aftermath, reactions and what comes next
Vinicius later condemned the incident, saying, "Racists are, above all, cowards. They need to put their shirts in their mouths to show how weak they are, " and adding that such abuse was not new to him or his family. Prestianni denied using a racial slur, stating he had been misunderstood and expressing regret over threats he said he received after the incident.
The match was marked by several notable moments beyond the stoppage. Thibaut Courtois produced saves to keep Real in control, and Kylian Mbappe threatened on multiple occasions, narrowly missing chances created by Trent Alexander-Arnold's incisive passes. Benfica’s goalkeeper, Trubin, who famously scored a late header to secure Benfica's place in the playoffs earlier this month, also had bright moments in goal.
Benfica manager Jose Mourinho was booked twice late in the game and will be absent from the touchline for the return leg. The second leg is scheduled for Wednesday, Feb. 25 at 3: 00 PM ET at the Santiago Bernabeu, where Benfica will seek to overturn the deficit and Real will be eager to protect their slender advantage amid a highly charged atmosphere.
Broader implications and procedure
The decision to halt play and the use of the on-field anti-racism signal highlighted the protocols now in place for dealing with discrimination. Referees are empowered to stop matches, request public announcements, and, if the behaviour persists, suspend play and take teams to the dressing rooms until order is restored. The episode has rekindled scrutiny of crowd behaviour and stadium security, with an object thrown from the stands later in stoppage time striking Vinicius’ arm as he prepared to take a corner.
Sporting authorities and both clubs face questions about how the incident will be investigated and what measures will be taken to prevent a recurrence. On the field, Real Madrid’s late winner gives them the upper hand heading to Madrid, but the controversy ensures the second leg will carry intense sporting and off-field significance.
