sports

Vinicius Jr. Accuses Benfica Player of Racism After Goal

Vinicius Jr. accused Benfica's Gianluca Prestianni of racism after scoring for Real Madrid, causing a 10-minute stoppage in their Champions League playoff clash.

After scoring an opener in the first half, Vinicius' celebration sparked confrontations with Benfica players. The Brazilian winger immediately reported to the referee that Prestianni had made a racist comment, leading to the match being halted under FIFA's racism protocol.

The 25-year-old sat on the bench refusing to continue while officials investigated. The match eventually resumed after a 10-minute delay, with a Benfica staff member shown a red card. Later in the game, Vinicius was struck by an object thrown from the stands.