Referee François Letexier(L) halted the game after Vinicius complained about racial abuse
In a bid to curtail racial abuse in football, governing bodies introduced the anti-racism protocol to deal with offenders.
Racism is often targeted at players with Black skin, who are subjected to insults such as being called “monkey” or having bananas thrown at them during matches.
The activation of the protocol was expected to help end such discriminatory acts, but its impact has yet to be fully realised, as incidents continue to occur in matches.
‘He called Vinícius a monkey’ – Mbappé alleges racist remark by Benfica’s Prestianni
The Anti-Racism Protocol in Football
The protocol, established in 2009, is a three-step procedure designed to handle incidents of discrimination inside stadiums.
It empowers players and referees to halt matches if racial abuse occurs and gives referees the authority to suspend or even abandon games if the abuse continues.
The Three Steps:
Initial Warning: The referee stops the game when reports of racist behavior emerge. An announcement is then made over the public address system, asking spectators to immediately stop any racist behavior.
Temporary Suspension: If the abuse continues, the referee can stop the game for five to ten minutes, take the players off the pitch, and make another announcement.
Match Abandonment: If the abuse persists after the restart, the referee can abandon the game. A match will only be abandoned once the security of the players and the public has been assessed.
The case is then referred to UEFA’s disciplinary authorities.
The Vinícius Jr alleged racial abuse by Gianluca Prestianni
The match between Benfica and Real Madrid at the Estádio da Luz in Lisbon on Tuesday, February 17, 2026, was halted for 10 minutes after Vinícius reported racial abuse by Prestianni to referee François Letexier. Vinícius and his teammates temporarily left the field in protest.
Replays showed the Argentine footballer lifting his jersey to cover his mouth while speaking to Vinícius Jr.
Reports indicate that Prestianni denied racially abusing Vinícius, claiming he used a different word rather than the “monkey” insult alleged publicly.
The referee then consulted officials from both clubs, and play resumed with the matter referred to UEFA’s disciplinary board for further investigation.
SB/MA
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