LISBON, Portugal — The match between Real Madrid and Benfica in the Champions League on Tuesday was interrupted for several minutes after Vinícius Júnior accused an opponent of racially insulting him.
French referee François Letexier stopped the match in the 52nd minute, just after Vinícius had given Madrid a 1-0 lead in the first leg of the knockout playoffs.
Benfica players were not happy with Vinícius because he celebrated by dancing in front of the corner flag, and some went to confront him, including Argentine player Gianluca Prestianni.
Prestianni was complaining to Vinicius while covering his mouth with his jersey, and then the Brazil forward suddenly pointed to him and ran toward the referee.
Cameras picked up Vinícius telling Letexier that Prestianni called him “monkey.”
The referee immediately stopped the match and Vinícius, who is Black, went to the sideline.
Both coaches, Benfica’s José Mourinho and Madrid’s Álvaro Arbeloa, talked to Vinícius at one point.
The referee appeared to show that he did not hear anything and gestured that Prestianni had the shirt over his mouth. Letexier pulled Prestianni aside and talked to him.
The Argentine player was not shown a yellow card and continued playing.
Vinícius had been shown a yellow card after the celebration. The game restarted in the 60th.
