UEFA has formalized the opening of an official investigation to clarify the alleged racist incidents that occurred during the UEFA Champions League match between Benfica and Real Madrid.
According to the governing body of European football, the process focuses on a possible violation of the Disciplinary Regulations following complaints of discriminatory behavior registered on February 17, 2026.
To this end, a specific inspector has been appointed in charge of analyzing what happened within the framework of the knockout phase of the continental tournament.
The central axis of the investigations will be the testimony of the direct protagonists, Vinicius Jr. and Gianluca Prestianni.
The assigned inspector plans to listen to both footballers to delve into the details of a situation that escalated to cause the game to be suspended for at least ten minutes.
The objective is to determine exactly the content of the insults reported by those around the Brazilian player, in a context of maximum competitive tension.
However, the investigation faces a significant technical obstacle that complicates resolution of the case.
UEFA opens official investigation into alleged racist incident between Prestianni and Vinicius
During the altercation, Prestianni covered his mouth with his shirt, an action that makes it impossible to use lip reading to confirm the exact words directed at the Real Madrid forward.
This lack of direct visual evidence places the burden of proof on the field audios and the eyewitness testimonies of those who were on the field of play.
For its part, Benfica has reacted forcefully through its official channels, defending the innocence of its player.
The Portuguese club maintains that, given the physical distance between the players at the time of the incident, it is unlikely that the Madrid players heard what they claim to have heard.
In line with his team’s position, Prestianni himself has used his social networks to categorically deny any accusation of racism, ensuring that his words were misinterpreted.
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