Real Madrid wins 1-0 against Benfica amid racist incidents

Real Madrid Beats Benfica 1-0 in Champions League Playoff First Leg, Match Interrupted Due to Alleged Racial Slur

A match between Real Madrid and Benfica was halted for 11 minutes on Tuesday after a heated exchange between the teams’ players. The incident occurred during the second half of the game at Estadio da Luz, with Real Madrid’s Vinicius Jr scoring a winning goal in the fifth minute of the second half.

According to reports, Gianluca Prestianni, a Benfica player, allegedly directed a racial slur towards Vinicius Jr. The incident sparked a reaction from Real Madrid players, who became involved in a heated exchange with Prestianni and several other Benfica players. Referee Francois Letexier halted the match under FIFA’s antiracism protocol.

Television cameras captured footage of Prestianni making a comment that was interpreted by Vinicius Jr and his teammates as a racial slur. Real Madrid captain Federico Valverde stated that he heard something “very ugly” from Prestianni, while teammate Kylian Mbappe reportedly called him “a bloody racist” to his face.

The match resumed 11 minutes later, with tensions still high. In the 85th minute, Vinicius Jr fouled Richard Rios, prompting a heated exchange between the players and coaches. Benfica manager Jose Mourinho was cautioned for protesting, while Real Madrid coach Alvaro Arbeloa condemned the alleged abuse against Vinicius Jr.

Real Madrid ultimately secured a 1-0 win, with Vinicius Jr’s goal proving to be the decisive moment in the match. The team will take the lead back to Madrid for the return leg of the Champions League playoff first leg.

Source: Al Jazeera