The breakthrough came midway through the second half when Vinicius Junior found the back of the net, silencing the home crowd and handing the Spanish giants a 1-0 lead. However, the celebrations were short-lived. In the moments following the goal, the Brazilian international confronted Benfica’s Gianluca Prestianni, alleging that the player had directed the slur "mono"—the Spanish word for monkey—toward him. The accusation sparked an immediate outcry on the pitch, with Madrid teammates Kylian Mbappé and Fede Valverde vocally backing Vinicius’s account and urging the officiating crew to take action.
The severity of the allegation prompted the referee to activate UEFA's anti-racism protocol, leading to a tense 10-minute clearance of the pitch as officials and security personnel attempted to restore order. Despite the gravity of the claims, Benfica and Prestianni have issued a firm denial of any wrongdoing. The Lisbon-based club pointed toward the physical distance between the two players at the time of the alleged incident and suggested that available video evidence does not support the claim. Benfica manager José Mourinho also addressed the controversy during the post-match press conference, vehemently defending his team’s integrity and insisting that the club maintains a strict stance against any form of discrimination.
As the footballing world awaits the return leg, the focus has shifted from the scoreboard to the administrative offices of UEFA. The governing body is currently reviewing match official reports and technical footage to determine if disciplinary action is warranted. This incident adds to a growing list of flashpoints involving racial abuse in the sport, ensuring that the atmosphere at the Bernabéu will be under intense scrutiny. The final resolution of this investigation will likely serve as a significant marker for UEFA’s commitment to its "No to Racism" campaign, as the governing body balances the heat of a competitive knockout stage with the legal and ethical necessity of protecting player dignity.
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