Benfica Fined by UEFA Over Racist Chants During Real Madrid Clash
Portuguese football giants Benfica have been handed a substantial fine by European football’s governing body, UEFA, following incidents of racist abuse by their supporters during a recent Champions League fixture against Real Madrid. The club has been penalised €40,000 (approximately AUD $63,000) after two supporters were found to have engaged in “illicit chants and gestures.”
This sanction comes with an added stipulation: Benfica must observe a one-year probation period. Failure to maintain good conduct during this time could see a portion of their home ground, the Stadium of Light, closed for a future European competition match.
The investigation into the conduct of Benfica fans at the February 17th game in Lisbon also encompassed allegations of racist abuse directed at Real Madrid’s star forward, Vinícius Júnior. While the club has been fined for the broader fan misconduct, a separate UEFA investigation into an alleged racist slur made by Benfica player Gianluca Prestianni against Vinícius Júnior is reportedly still ongoing.
Allegations of Racist Slur Against Vinícius Júnior
The match itself experienced a significant interruption, reportedly lasting almost ten minutes. This pause occurred when Vinícius Júnior alerted the referee to an alleged incident where Prestianni, the young Argentinian winger, is accused of calling him a “monkey” after the Brazilian forward scored and subsequently celebrated in front of the Benfica faithful.
Television footage from the game appeared to show some Benfica supporters making monkey gestures in the aftermath of Real Madrid’s 1-0 victory in the first leg of the Champions League knockout play-off round.
Prestianni has reportedly denied the allegations. Eyewitness accounts suggest that the player pulled up his jersey to cover his mouth at the time the alleged insult was made.
As a consequence of the ongoing investigation into the alleged slur, Prestianni was suspended by UEFA from participating in the second leg of the tie, which was held in Madrid. Should the investigation find him guilty, the young winger could face a severe penalty of a 10-game ban from all UEFA competition matches.
Real Madrid’s Continued European Success
Despite the off-field controversies, Real Madrid ultimately triumphed in the tie, securing a 2-1 victory in the second leg at the Santiago Bernabéu. This result clinched a 3-1 aggregate win for the Spanish giants, propelling them into the last 16 of Europe’s premier club competition.
Their impressive European campaign has continued, with Real Madrid recently achieving a dominant 5-1 aggregate victory over Manchester City in their quarter-final tie, winning both legs. The formidable Spanish club is now set to face Bundesliga champions Bayern Munich in the Champions League quarter-finals next month. A win in that encounter would see them advance to a semi-final clash against either Paris Saint-Germain or Liverpool.
The club’s ongoing success in the Champions League underscores their status as a perennial contender in elite European football.
