gianluca prestianni at centre of UEFA probe after Vinicius Jr alleges racist abuse

Real Madrid forward Vinicius Jr halted Tuesday’s Champions League first leg in Lisbon after alleging he was racially abused by Benfica midfielder gianluca prestianni. The stoppage, which followed application of FIFA’s anti-racism procedure, focused attention on an incident that adds to a long list of abuse claims the 25-year-old has faced during his eight years at the Spanish club.

UEFA opens formal investigation and invokes disciplinary machinery

European football’s governing body has opened a formal inquiry and assigned an ethics and disciplinary inspector to gather testimony and evidence. Match officials used FIFA’s protocol after the incident, with the referee making the ‘No Racism Gesture’—arms crossed in an X—before play was paused for several minutes. The investigatory phase is expected to take time, with officials likely to interview players, match officials and other witnesses over the coming weeks rather than days.

There is precedent for lengthy processes: a high-profile case in recent years culminated in a suspension handed down roughly a month after the match. Guidelines set out by European authorities make clear that racist conduct can draw heavy bans—minimums are substantial—and that sanctions should be paired with awareness and education programmes for clubs when discriminatory behaviour is upheld.

Accused player denies claim; selection for Bernabéu second leg likely

gianluca prestianni has denied the accusation, saying the exchange was misunderstood. Benfica’s public position has been to back the player’s version of events while reiterating a commitment to equality and inclusion. With the second-leg meeting at Real Madrid scheduled for next Wednesday (ET), the accused midfielder is likely to remain available for selection while the investigation proceeds, since disciplinary panels generally conclude after evidence gathering.

Real Madrid teammates were vocal after the match. One star teammate said he heard a racial slur repeated several times, while Vinicius Jr and club staff pressed the referee to act during the game. The stoppage briefly disrupted the match and thrust the wider debate over player protections and crowd behaviour back into the headlines.

Broader fallout: a pattern for Vinicius Jr and a fraught media debate

Vinicius Jr has now publicly identified this as roughly the 20th incident of alleged racist abuse he has faced since joining the club eight years ago. That sustained pattern has turned him into a focal point for discussions about how football handles discrimination. The incident has again prompted sharp divides in public commentary: some critics argue a player’s on-field celebrations can inflame situations, while others note that such reactions are inseparable from the hostile environments players of colour regularly confront.

Benfica’s head coach suggested that provocation on the pitch played a role and referenced the club’s historic Black icon to reject allegations the club itself is racist. Anti-racism advocates criticised that stance as deflective and warned it risks minimising the lived experiences of players. The exchange has reopened questions about stadium culture, stewarding, audio and video evidence collection, and whether current protocols give victims timely remedies on matchday.

With UEFA’s inspector now collecting evidence, the next phase will determine whether formal charges are filed and what disciplinary measures, if any, follow. Whatever the outcome, the episode will add pressure on governing bodies, clubs and broadcasters to clarify how they prevent, investigate and punish racist behaviour while ensuring that high-profile fixtures do not become repeat venues for the same debate.