gianluca prestianni at center of UEFA probe after Vinicius Jr alleges racial abuse
Real Madrid forward Vinicius Jr halted Tuesday's Champions League play-off first leg in Lisbon by flagging alleged racist abuse aimed at him by Benfica midfielder gianluca prestianni. The match was paused under the anti-racism protocol and the incident has triggered a formal UEFA ethics and disciplinary investigation.
Match stoppage and immediate reactions
The incident occurred shortly after Vinicius Jr scored the only goal of the game in the 50th minute. He celebrated in front of the home fans and then appeared to point toward prestianni, prompting referee Francois Letexier to signal FIFA’s anti-racism gesture and pause play. The stoppage lasted around eight minutes.
Prestianni has denied using racial language, saying the Madrid player misunderstood what he heard. Teammates of Vinicius publicly supported his account; one teammate said he had heard a racial slur repeated multiple times. Benfica’s manager suggested Vinicius’ celebration helped provoke the exchange and referenced the club’s celebrated Black former player when defending the squad’s record on race. That defence was criticized by anti-racism advocates who called it dismissive and harmful to efforts to address discriminatory behaviour.
UEFA investigation and potential disciplinary path
European football’s governing body has assigned an ethics and disciplinary inspector to gather evidence, interview those involved and review match material. Given the profile of the case, the review is expected to stretch into weeks rather than be resolved in days. With the second leg scheduled for next Wednesday (ET), it is likely that prestianni will be available for selection while the inquiry runs.
There is precedent for lengthy probes in cross-border racism allegations. A previous high-profile case of alleged racist conduct in European competition resulted in a multi-game suspension after a comprehensive disciplinary process. UEFA guidelines set a minimum baseline for sanctions in cases of racist conduct and also recommend accompanying awareness and education programs for clubs when sanctions are applied.
Authorities will weigh testimony from players and officials, audio-visual evidence from the stadium, and the referee’s match report. The application of FIFA’s three-step anti-racism procedure — which can escalate from a match stoppage to temporary suspension and ultimately abandonment in extreme circumstances — will be central to any disciplinary decision.
Broader context: repeated incidents and the personal toll
Vinicius Jr has been vocal about the repeated abuse he says he has endured throughout his eight years at the club, identifying this as the 20th alleged incident. That pattern has elevated him beyond the pitch: he has become a visible symbol in the sport’s struggle with racism, drawing strong backing from teammates and outspoken criticism from anti-discrimination groups.
Club dynamics, media framing and public opinion all shape how these episodes are handled and perceived. Observers note a recurring narrative that focuses on the conduct of the abused player rather than on the behaviour of alleged perpetrators or the environment that enables abuse. Campaigners warn that deflective responses and historical references to a club’s past figures do little to address present discrimination and can amount to gaslighting.
The investigation will test official processes and the willingness of football authorities and clubs to deliver timely accountability. For now, both squads move on to a decisive second leg next Wednesday (ET) with the disciplinary process continuing off the pitch. Whatever the outcome, the case underscores persistent challenges in stamping out racist abuse in the stadiums and protecting players from repeated harm.
