Real Madrid have confirmed they have submitted evidence to UEFA following allegations that forward Vinicius Jr was subjected to racist abuse during their Champions League playoff first-leg victory over Benfica.
The Spanish club said it has provided all available material to assist UEFA’s investigation into claims that Benfica winger Gianluca Prestianni directed a racist remark at Vinicius during the 1-0 win in Lisbon.
The match was temporarily suspended for 11 minutes after Vinicius reported the alleged incident shortly after scoring early in the second half. Play eventually resumed following discussions between officials and both teams.
Prestianni has denied the accusation, stating that the Brazilian forward misunderstood what he believed he heard. Benfica also issued a statement backing their player, while UEFA appointed an Ethics and Disciplinary Inspector to examine the matter.
In its statement, Real Madrid reiterated its commitment to combating racism, violence, and discrimination in sport and society. The club also expressed appreciation for the support shown to Vinicius in the aftermath of the incident.
The second leg of the playoff tie is scheduled to take place in Madrid next week, with the investigation ongoing
