UEFA Delivers Sanctions After Vinicius Incident at Benfica
25 March 2026
UEFA Delivers Sanctions After Vinicius Incident at Benfica
UEFA has issued formal sanctions against Benfica following the events surrounding the first leg of the Champions League qualifier between Real Madrid and Benfica in February. The disciplinary body cited hostility and improper conduct in the stands, as Vinicius Júnior celebrated near the corner flag.
The Portuguese club faced fines and penalties after Benfica fans directed chants and non sanctioned gestures toward Vinicius, while objects were thrown onto the pitch. Gianluca Prestiani's confrontation with Vinicius and the Brazilian player's reaction sparked a stoppage that stretched the match by ten minutes as investigations began.
Penalties and Ongoing Investigations
According to UEFA's disciplinary measures, Benfica was fined €40,000 for chants and illegal gestures and an additional €25,000 for objects thrown at the pitch. A one-year stadium attendance probation was imposed, with the 500-seat closures in sections 10 and 11 of the south stand suspended unless there is a repeated offense.
In addition, Benfica's assistant coach Pedro Luis Ferreira Machado was suspended for one match, and five Benfica fans previously under investigation for racist behavior were temporarily suspended from duties under review. Visual footage showed monkey-like gestures after Real Madrid's 1-0 victory.
UEFA continues its inquiry into whether Gianluca Prestiani directed a racist insult at Vinicius Júnior; he has been temporarily suspended from the second leg in Madrid while the probe proceeds. A potential ten-match ban remains a possibility if the accusation is upheld.
Punchline 1: If controversy paid the bills, Benfica would be the richest club in Europe. Punchline 2: In football, even the VAR needs a nap after this drama.
