Portuguese club Benfica have suspended five supporters for racist behaviour during the first leg of their UEFA Champions League knockout play-off against Real Madrid earlier this month.
Play at the Estádio da Luz was halted for 10 minutes after Real forward Vinicius Junior informed the referee that he had been racially abused. The Brazilian initially indicated that the alleged insult came from Benfica’s Argentine winger Gianluca Prestianni, who has strongly denied the accusation.
Maximum Sanction Applied
In an official statement, Benfica confirmed that disciplinary proceedings had been opened and concluded with the expulsion of five members — the most severe punishment permitted under the club’s statutes.
“Benfica informs that it has suspended the memberships of five members following the initiation of disciplinary proceedings that led to the application of the maximum sanction stipulated in the club’s statutes, which is expulsion,” the statement read.
The club added that an internal investigation was launched after the February 17 fixture, citing
“inappropriate behaviour in the stands, of a racist nature, incompatible with the values and principles that govern the club.”
Benfica reiterated its zero-tolerance stance, stressing it “does not tolerate any form of discrimination or racism and will continue to act firmly when behaviours undermine the values of the club.”
Match Tensions and Fallout
Vinicius had given the visitors the lead in Lisbon but was later booked for an excessive celebration in front of home supporters. Television footage appeared to show sections of the crowd making racist gestures in his direction.
Following a heated exchange with Prestianni, the Brazilian ran toward the referee while gesturing in the direction of the Argentine before briefly leaving the pitch alongside his team-mates. When play resumed, an object thrown from the stands struck Vinicius on the arm as he prepared to take a corner.
Benfica manager Jose Mourinho claimed post-match that Vinicius had acted disrespectfully and incited the crowd — remarks that drew criticism from former Real Madrid midfielder Clarence Seedorf and other pundits.
UEFA Action and Second-Leg Outcome
UEFA handed Prestianni a provisional one-match suspension, ruling him out of the return leg in Madrid. Real Madrid won the second leg 2-1 at the Santiago Bernabéu to seal a 3-1 aggregate victory, with Vinicius again on the scoresheet despite being booed by the travelling supporters.
