Video: Vinicius accuses Benfica teen of racist abuse
Abdullateef Fowewe
Real Madrid star, Vinicius Jr., has sparked a dramatic halt in their UEFA Champions League match against Benfica tonight, alleging that the Portuguese club’s young winger Gianluca Prestianni racially insulted him mid-game.
Video footage from the incident shows Vinicius confronting the referee and then Benfica manager José Mourinho, pointing directly at Prestianni, who was seen covering his mouth with his shirt.
Vinicius reportedly told officials that Prestianni had directed a racial slur at him during the heated exchange.
The allegation immediately triggered UEFA’s three-step anti-racism protocol, pausing play for on-pitch announcements and assessments.
Tension boiled over as players and staff from both sides clashed visibly on the field, underscoring the raw emotions involved.
This isn’t Vinicius’s first brush with racism.
ESPN data documents at least 16 incidents since he joined Real Madrid in 2018, despite widespread anti-racism campaigns across European football.
