Trent Alexander-Arnold Brands Alleged Racism Towards Vinícius Júnior 'Disgusting' and a 'Disgrace to Football' After Benfica Clash Halted

 

The incident occurred during Real Madrid's 1-0 victory over Benfica in the UEFA Champions League knockout play-off first leg on February 17, 2026, at the Estádio da Luz in Lisbon. Vinícius Júnior scored a stunning wonder goal early in the second half, but the celebration was overshadowed when he accused Benfica midfielder Gianluca Prestianni of directing a racial slur at him—reportedly calling him a "monkey" multiple times while covering his mouth.

The match was halted for over 10 minutes as the referee activated UEFA's anti-racism protocol. Vinícius spoke to officials, and the game resumed after the delay. Prestianni was not sent off, and an investigation is ongoing. Vinícius later posted on social media calling racists "cowards above all."

Real Madrid teammate Trent Alexander-Arnold, the former Liverpool defender now at Madrid, strongly condemned the alleged abuse in his post-match interview with Amazon Prime (also referenced across outlets like BBC, CNN, and France 24).

He described the incident as "disgusting" and a "disgrace to football", noting it overshadowed the team's performance and Vinícius's brilliant goal. Alexander-Arnold emphasized that Vinícius has faced such abuse multiple times in his career, adding there is "no place for it in football or society" and that it "ruined the night for the team."

Other reactions included Kylian Mbappé calling for Prestianni to be banned from the Champions League, while Benfica manager José Mourinho faced criticism for suggesting Vinícius's goal celebration incited the reaction—comments seen by many as unjustifiably excusing racism.

This latest episode highlights the ongoing issue of racism in football, particularly for Vinícius, who has endured repeated incidents in Spain and beyond.