UEFA has appointed an ethics and disciplinary inspector to investigate allegations of a racist slur directed at Real Madrid forward Vinícius Júnior during Tuesday’s Champions League playoff match at Benfica.
Vinicius Junior was called a Monkey by Benfica’s Argentina player, Gianluca Prestianni, during their UEFA Champions League playoff on Tuesday.
He scored the only goal in the first leg at the Estádio da Luz, but during his celebration, he became embroiled in a spat with Benfica players, including Gianluca Prestianni, accusing the Argentinian midfielder of racial abuse.
The game was paused for 10 minutes after the referee initiated UEFA’s anti-racism protocol.
“A UEFA Ethics and Disciplinary Inspector has been appointed to investigate allegations of discriminatory behaviour during the UEFA Champions League 2025/2026 knockout playoff between Club Benfica and Real Madrid CF on 17 February 2026,” a UEFA statement said.
Prestianni, 20, denied Vinicius’ allegations on social media, stating that the Brazil international “misinterpreted what he thinks he heard.”
Vinicius made the first leg of the Champions League knockout play-off exciting with a great personal effort to score the first goal just five minutes after the second half started at Lisbon’s Estadio da Luz.
A member of Benfica’s coaching team received a straight red card during the clash, and Mourinho was also sent off near the end of the match.
This means he will miss the second leg at the Bernabeu due to suspension.
