Real Madrid give update on Vinicius Jr racism case

WorldFootball
19 Feb 2026 • 8:55 PM MYT
The Independent
The Independent

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  • Real Madrid confirmed they have submitted “all available evidence” to Uefa regarding alleged racial abuse against their forward Vinicius Junior during a Champions League match in Lisbon.
  • Vinicius Junior reported the abuse, purportedly from Benfica winger Gianluca Prestianni, to the referee during Tuesday's game, leading to a temporary halt in play.
  • Uefa has confirmed it launched a disciplinary investigation into the incidents, with Real Madrid actively cooperating.
  • Prestianni has denied making racist comments, and his club, Benfica, has criticised what they termed a “defamation campaign” against their player.
  • Benfica coach Jose Mourinho has faced criticism from anti-discrimination charity Kick It Out for his post-match comments, which were described as “gaslighting”.

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