Benfica take action after racism marred Real Madrid clash | OneFootball

Club moves swiftly following Vinícius Júnior incident

Benfica take action after racism marred Real Madrid clash

Benfica have suspended five supporter after racist behavior during their Champions League home match against Real Madrid on 17 February.

Club takes action after serious incident

Benfica confirmed the suspension of five club member following what the club described as racist conduct in the stands during the UEFA Champions League match against Real Madrid in Lisbon.

The Portuguese club announced that the fans’ memberships have been cancelled temporarily while disciplinary procedures continue.

The process could lead to permanent stadium ban meaning the individuals may no longer be allowed to attend Benfica matches.

Match stopped after Vinicius Jr complaint

The incident occurred during second half of the match on 17 February, shortly after Vinicius Junior scored for Real Madrid.

The Brazilian winger reported that he had been subjected to racist abuse which led to the game being stopped for around eight minute.

After speaking with Vinicius, referee Francois Letexier activated FIFA’s anti-racism protocol marking another serious case of discrimination in European football.

Benfica: “No tolerance for racism”

According to The Athletic, Benfica described the actions of the suspended supporters as “inappropriate behavior of racist nature” that goes against the club’s values and principles.

In official statement, the club stressed that it has zero tolerance for any form of racism or discrimination and will continue to take strong measures whenever such behavior appears in football stadiums.

The five supporter had their “Red Pass” tickets suspended. These passes normally allow access to all home matches underlining the seriousness of the punishment.

Dispute involving Prestianni

The controversy was further fueled by claims involving Gianluca Prestianni who was accused by Vinicius of directing racist remarks toward him. Prestianni has denied the accusation.

Despite the denial, Benfica moved forward with disciplinary steps against supporters focusing on behavior identified inside the stadium rather than on-field disputes.