Vinicius Junior 'racism' row: What was said to the Real Madrid forward in Benfica match? Details

Updated on: Feb 18, 2026 3:13 AM IST

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Real Madrid's Brazilian forward Vinicius Junior. (AFP)

Vinícius Júnior briefly left the pitch after alleged racist abuse while celebrating a goal vs Benfica in Lisbon; remarks remain unclear.

Real Madrid forward Vinicius Junior left the field briefly in the second half of the UEFA Champions League game against Portuguese team, Benfica, on Wednesday night after a purported “racist remark” from the crowd in Lisbon.

Vinicius Junior was celebrating his goal when someone from the crowd at the Estadio da Luz appeared to have said something to him, reportedly a “racist remark”. As of now, it is unclear what was said to the 25-year-old.

Alan Shearer reported on BBC Sports: "We don't know what's been said to him. We can see Jose Mourinho down there and he's gone speaking to Real Madrid staff and Vini Jr himself to calm him down."

Mark Clattenburg, a former Premier League referee, reported on Amazon Prime that it was likely a "racial comment." Vinicius Jr was seen walking up to the referee complaining about what was said to him.

“Words have been said between the players. Vinicius is not happy with what has been said. The referee is following the protocol for a racial comment that has been said,” Clattenburg said.

What Happened At Vini Jr's Goal Celebration

The Brazilian's goal came just in the second half in the 50th minute of the game in Lisbon. He refused to come onto the pitch amid the 'racist comment' row, and the referee had to stop the game following UEFA protocol.

Also read: Benfica vs Real Madrid Live Streaming UEFA Champions League: Where to watch UCL match live online and on TV

He was sitting on his own on the Real Madrid bench as players and staff members tried to speak to him. At one point, Benfica coach Jose Mourinho also walked up to him and exchanged words.

Earlier, Vinicius Jr was shown a yellow card for antagonizing fans during the celebrations. But as he refused to play on, and the game remained paused for several minutes, heated scenes were observed on the pitch.

Eventually, the game was restarted after Vinicius Jr agreed to play on following mediation by Benfica and Real Madrid staff members. Meanwhile, a Real Madrid staff member was shown a red card for something said during the chaos.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Shamik Banerjee
Shamik is a journalist covering the United States for Hindustan Times. He has more than four years of experience reporting on US politics, sports, and major breaking stories across fast-moving cycles. He previously worked at Times Now and Sportskeeda, building strong newsroom instincts and digital storytelling skills. At HT.com, he focuses on day-to-day coverage of US political developments while also handling high-impact stories that demand speed, accuracy, clarity, and context under pressure. Shamik has extensive experience covering NFL game days over the past two years, coordinating live updates, analysis, and explainers. He is particularly drawn to large news moments such as US elections and the Super Bowl, where he thrives at the news desk working alongside the team. He holds degrees in Media Studies from Jamia Millia Islamia and English Literature from Jadavpur University. Before entering journalism, he briefly worked in digital marketing and political consultancy roles. Currently a Senior Content Producer at HT Digital, he is driven by curiosity, discipline, and a constant desire to explore new and obscure topics. Outside work, he enjoys reading, films, sports, and learning continuously.Read More

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