benfica - real madrid: Vinícius allegation of racist abuse halts tie as Real win 1-0
Real Madrid claimed a 1-0 first-leg victory in Lisbon, but the result was overshadowed when play was stopped following an incident involving Vinícius Júnior. The forward scored the decisive goal, celebrated, and then raised a complaint that led to a prolonged halt and heated exchanges on the pitch.
What unfolded at Estádio da Luz
The match's turning point came shortly after Vinícius Júnior produced a brilliant strike to open the scoring. Celebratory scenes quickly gave way to confrontation when an exchange took place between Vinícius and a young Benfica player. The young player then put his shirt over his mouth in a gesture that was widely noticed and interpreted in different ways by those on the field.
Vinícius told teammates and officials he had been subjected to racist abuse. Play was paused while players and staff left the pitch and officials attempted to calm the situation. The forward later posted a translated statement on social media condemning the alleged behaviour: "Racists are, above all, cowards. They need to put their shirts in their mouths to show how weak they are. Nothing that happened today is new in my life or in my team's life. " He added that he had been shown a yellow card for his goal celebration and described the handling of the stoppage as "a poorly executed protocol".
After discussions on the touchline, Vinícius chose to return to the field and his team saw out the remainder of the game to take a narrow advantage into the second leg.
Reactions from the dressing room and former players
The incident prompted immediate reactions from players and coaches. One opponent called the episode "a disgrace to football, " saying the events had overshadowed his team's performance and that there is no place in the sport for such behaviour. Real Madrid's Álvaro Arbeloa stressed the importance of combating racism, urging that the game must protect its participants and that players should stand together.
Former players voiced similar views, framing the episode as part of a wider educational challenge. One ex-international suggested the moment should lead to greater awareness among referees, coaches and players and described it as an opportunity to implement clearer gestures and protocols when abuse occurs. There was also a suggestion that the incident required collective action to safeguard the game's values.
Meanwhile, a high-profile manager who was present commented on the celebration and subsequent fallout, saying there had been an exchange of words and that the situation is complex; he declined to take a definitive stance on which version of events was correct, while noting the club involved has a long history that should caution against broad characterisations.
Aftermath and what comes next
The result leaves Real Madrid with a slender advantage heading into the second leg of the tie. Those return fixtures are scheduled for Feb. 24 and Feb. 25 ET. The match in Lisbon has sparked discussion about match protocols and potential disciplinary follow-up; governing bodies and competition organisers are expected to examine the footage and testimonies.
Players from both sides were reported to have exchanged words again in the tunnel after the final whistle, underlining how emotionally charged the evening became. For now, attention will shift back to the pitch and the second-leg preparations, but the incident in Lisbon ensures that questions about how the sport handles allegations of abuse will remain part of the conversation ahead of the next meeting.
