Real Madrid's Champions League knockout phase play-off tie at Benfica was halted for 10 minutes after Vinicius Junior reported alleged racist abuse and he and his team-mates left the field.

Referee Francois Letexier made the crossed arms gesture to signal racist abuse following a conversation with Vinicius.

The Brazil forward had put the Spanish visitors 1-0 up in the second half at the Estadio da Luz, before being booked for an excessive celebration.

Following an interaction with Benfica's Gianluca Prestianni, Vinicius ran over to referee Letexier while gesturing towards the opposition player.

A Real Madrid statement said Vinicius told the referee he had been racially abused by the Argentina winger.

Vinicius then walked off the pitch and was followed by his Real Madrid team-mates, but play restarted 10 minutes later, in the 60th minute.

The match was played out to its conclusion, with Real winning 1-0 after 12 minutes of stoppage time, during which an object thrown from the crowd struck Vinicius on the arm.

After the match, Vinicius released a statement on Instagram condemning the incident.

"Racists are, above all, cowards. They need to put their shirts in their mouths to show how weak they are," said Vinicius.

"But they have the protection of others who, theoretically, have an obligation to punish them. Nothing that happened today is new in my life or in my team's life.

"I received a yellow card for celebrating a goal. I still don't understand why. On the other hand, it was just a poorly executed protocol that served no purpose."

Prestianni denied directing racist abuse towards Vinicius.

"I want to clarify that at no time did I direct racist insults to Vini Jr, who regrettably misunderstood what he thought he heard," said the 20-year-old.

"I was never racist with anyone and I regret the threats I received from Real Madrid players."

The crossed-arms gesture to signal racist abuse was introduced by Fifa in May 2024.

It is made by an on-field referee if they observe or receive a report of abuse.

Objects were seen being thrown from the crowd as Vinicius, 25, danced by the corner flag after scoring a stunning goal in the 50th minute.

That sparked a disagreement between the players on the pitch, following which Vinicius and Prestianni were seen interacting on the halfway line.

The Real star led his team-mates off the pitch after reporting the incident and spoke with Benfica manager Jose Mourinho as staff members from both sides became involved.

Vinicius has been the victim of numerous incidents of racist abuse during his playing career.

Five people were handed suspended prison sentences for racially abusing him last year – the first time that a conviction for racism at a football match in Spain has been handed out.

What is the referee protocol?

Uefa established a three-step racism protocol to handle incidents of discrimination inside stadiums in 2009.

It is designed to give referees the power to halt or even abandon matches if racist behaviour continues.

If the referee becomes aware of a racist incident, they will:

Stop the match. If the incident involves members of the crowd, an announcement will be made over the public address system calling for any racist behaviour to stop.
If it continues, the game is stopped for five to 10 minutes and the players will be taken off the pitch while another announcement is made.
If it resumes after the second restart, the referee can abandon the game.

A match will only be abandoned once the security of the players and public has been assessed. The case is then referred to Uefa's disciplinary authorities.

What has happened previously with Vinicius?

20 September 2022 - Atletico Madrid condemn "unacceptable" chants by a "minority" of fans towards Vinicius outside their stadium before a La Liga derby with Real Madrid.
26 January 2023 - La Liga says it "strongly condemns acts of hatred and intimidation against Vinicius Jr" after an effigy of him was hung from a bridge near the club's training ground. Four men are fined 60,000 euros (£51,700) and given a two-year stadium ban for the act.
21 May 2023 - Vinicius suffers racist abuse at Valencia but is sent off for violent conduct in the 97th minute after an altercation with striker Hugo Duro. Earlier in the game, an incensed Vinicius attempts to bring Valencia fans to the referee's attention.
22 May 2023 - Real Madrid file the incident to the Spanish prosecutor's office as a hate crime.
19 March 2024 - Real Madrid file complaint after referee Juan Martinez Munuera omits alleged racist abuse allegations from fans towards Vinicius in his report after the club's match against Osasuna.
25 March 2024 - Vinicius says he feels "less and less" like playing football because of the repeated racist abuse he has suffered.
10 June 2024 - Vinicius says he is a "tormentor of racists" after three Valencia fans are sentenced to eight months in prison for abusing him at a match in May 2023.
29 November 2024 - Real Madrid hand a minor a one-year stadium ban and fine for racially abusing Vinicius during the club's match against Rayo Vallecano the previous season.
21 May 2025 - Five people are handed suspended prison sentences for racially abusing Vinicius in an "unprecedented" ruling in Spain. The incident occurred during Real Madrid's match against Real Valladolid in September 2022.
17 February 2026 - Real Madrid's Champions League knockout phase play-off tie at Benfica is halted for 10 minutes after Vinicius and his team-mates leave the field. (BBC)

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