Real Madrid Star Trent Alexander-Arnold Condemns Racist Abuse of Vinícius Júnior in Champions League Clash
Real Madrid footballer Trent Alexander-Arnold has strongly condemned the alleged racist abuse directed at teammate Vinícius Júnior during a UEFA Champions League match. The incident occurred during Real Madrid's 1-0 victory over Benfica in the first leg of their play-off tie on Tuesday night, February 18, 2026.
Match Halted Due to Racism Allegations
The crucial Champions League encounter at the Estádio da Luz was interrupted for more than ten minutes following serious allegations of racial abuse. Vinícius Júnior accused Benfica midfielder Gianluca Prestianni of directing racist language toward him shortly after the Brazilian forward scored the decisive goal early in the second half.
"It's disgusting. What's happened tonight is a disgrace for football," said Alexander-Arnold, the former Liverpool defender who now plays for Real Madrid. "It's ruined the night for the team."
Incident Details and Player Reactions
Vinícius had put Real Madrid ahead in the 50th minute with a spectacular strike before celebrating in front of the home supporters. This celebration prompted a heated exchange with Prestianni. The Brazilian later informed referee François Letexier that he had been called "mono," the Spanish term for monkey. Vinícius received a yellow card for his celebration before UEFA's racism protocol was activated.
Real Madrid forward Kylian Mbappé called for severe sanctions if the allegations are proven true. "We cannot accept that a player behaves like this in Europe's top competition," Mbappé stated. "If it's confirmed, he shouldn't play in the Champions League again."
Midfielder Aurélien Tchouaméni confirmed that Vinícius reported being racially abused during the confrontation. Team captain Federico Valverde added that teammates heard "something ugly" said during the incident.
"If you cover your mouth to speak, it's usually because you know what you're saying isn't right," Valverde told Spanish television. "I'm proud of how Vini handled it and how he continued to play."
Social Media Evidence and Fan Behavior
Social media posts circulated showing alleged evidence of the racist abuse. One video suggested Prestianni was using racial slurs against Vinícius Júnior well before the confrontation became public. This reportedly explains why Mbappé claimed to have heard the abuse multiple times and why he was the first to confront the Benfica player.
Additional posts showed Portuguese fans in the stands allegedly racially abusing Vinícius, with commentators calling the behavior "completely unacceptable" and urging Portugal to do better in addressing racism in football.
Coaching Responses and Historical Context
Benfica coach José Mourinho stated that Prestianni denied the racism accusations and criticized Vinícius for provoking the crowd with his goal celebration. Mourinho was later sent off for protesting that the Brazilian should have received a second yellow card during the match.
This incident has reignited longstanding concerns about racism in European football. Vinícius Júnior, now 25 years old, has repeatedly faced racial abuse throughout his career in Spain. In 2023, he confronted fans at Valencia's Mestalla stadium over similar insults, and several Atlético Madrid supporters have faced legal consequences for racist actions targeting the Brazilian star.
Match Outcome and Protocol Implementation
Following the brief suspension under UEFA's anti-racism protocol, the match resumed without further incident. Real Madrid managed to hold on to their narrow lead, securing a valuable away victory that puts them in a strong position for the second leg of their Champions League play-off tie.
The incident has sparked widespread discussion about racism in football, with players, officials, and fans calling for stronger measures to combat discriminatory behavior in the sport. UEFA is expected to investigate the allegations thoroughly, with potential sanctions for any confirmed violations of their anti-racism policies.
