Real Madrid Players Exit Field, Halting Champions League Tie with Benfica

Real Madrid’s recent Champions League match against Benfica faced a significant disruption due to allegations of racism. The game, held at the Estadio da Luz, was halted for approximately 10 minutes after forward Vinicius Junior reported experiencing racial abuse.

Incident Overview

In the second half, Vinicius put Real Madrid ahead with a goal, making the score 1-0. Following his celebration, he received a yellow card, which led to confusion for the player. When Vinicius interacted with Benfica’s Gianluca Prestianni, he promptly approached referee Francois Letexier to communicate the alleged incident.

Referee’s Response

Referee Letexier acknowledged Vinicius’s claims and signaled the concerns by crossing his arms, a gesture indicating racist abuse. Vinicius, alongside his teammates, chose to leave the field in solidarity. After a brief discussion, the match resumed around the 60th minute.

Match Conclusion

Despite the pause in play, the match continued with Real Madrid ultimately securing a 1-0 victory. However, the match was marred by additional incidents, including an object thrown from the crowd that struck Vinicius on the arm during stoppage time.

Aftermath and Reactions

In the wake of the incident, Vinicius Junior took to Instagram to express his thoughts. He remarked, “Racists are, above all, cowards. They need to put their shirts in their mouths to show how weak they are.” He emphasized that such occurrences are not unfamiliar in his life. Furthermore, he criticized what he viewed as ineffective measures taken to address racism in football.

Defending Prestianni

Addressing the situation, Benfica forward Vangelis Pavlidis defended Gianluca Prestianni, asserting that he did not believe his teammate had made any racist remarks. Pavlidis suggested that the tensions could stem from the intense Brazil-Argentina rivalry rather than any personal offense.

• Key Players Involved:
  • Vinicius Junior – Real Madrid
  • Gianluca Prestianni – Benfica
  • Vangelis Pavlidis – Benfica
• Match Details:
  • Event: Champions League knockout phase play-off
  • Date: Recent match
  • Location: Estadio da Luz, Lisbon

This incident has reignited discussions surrounding racism in football, highlighting the ongoing challenges faced by players of color in the sport. As the match concluded with a victory for Real Madrid, the ramifications of this incident will continue to resonate within the football community.