In the wake of a controversial incident during the UEFA Champions League clash between Real Madrid and Benfica, tensions remain high as the teams prepare for their return fixture. The episode, which unfolded in the first leg on فبراير 17, 2026, involved accusations of racist remarks exchanged between Vinícius Júnior of Real Madrid and Argentine forward Gianluca Prestiani representing Benfica.
Vinícius alleged that Prestiani uttered discriminatory language, prompting the match to be halted momentarily. Despite the disruption, Real Madrid secured a narrow 1-0 victory that day. The matter has since attracted the attention of UEFA, which has launched a formal inquiry into the conduct of the players involved.
UEFA’s Disciplinary Response and Ongoing Investigation
On فبراير 24, 2026, UEFA issued a provisional decision suspending Prestiani from participating in the upcoming second leg at the Santiago Bernabéu. This ruling, grounded in article 14 of UEFA’s disciplinary regulations concerning discriminatory behavior, was enacted following a preliminary report submitted by UEFA’s ethics and disciplinary inspector.
The official UEFA statement emphasized that this temporary ban does not preclude further sanctions pending the conclusion of the investigation and the presentation of definitive findings. Therefore, the possibility of harsher disciplinary measures remains open.
Despite the suspension, Prestiani traveled with the Benfica squad to Madrid on فبراير 25, 2026, signaling the club’s continued support amid the controversy.
According to a report from the British newspaper The Times, Prestiani has leveled his own accusation, claiming that Vinícius had originally called him a “dwarf” before covering his mouth with his jersey and directing unknown insults back at the Brazilian player. Meanwhile, Vinícius and his teammate Kylian Mbappé assert that Prestiani referred to Vinícius as a “monkey.”
Notably, Prestiani’s accusation had not been disclosed publicly until now, with Vinícius confiding only to his teammates in Benfica’s dressing room and refraining from any official statements. It remains unlikely that he will comment openly on the issue in the immediate future.
Benfica’s response has been articulated through their president, Rui Costa, who expressed discontent with UEFA’s handling of the case. Rui Costa criticized the temporary sanction imposed without fully respecting the presumption of innocence, underscoring the club’s dissatisfaction as investigations continue.
This episode casts a long shadow over what is already a high-stakes Champions League encounter scheduled for فبراير 25, 2026, at 21:00, where both Real Madrid and Benfica will seek to assert dominance on Europe’s premier club stage.
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