When Chants Cut the Game: Racism Halts Benfica vs Real Madrid in Lisbon
17 February 2026
The match halted amid racist chants
The Real Madrid–Benfica tie at Estádio da Luz was paused in the first leg of the playoff to reach the UEFA Champions League knockout stage, after a wave of racist chants from some Benfica supporters targeted Vinícius Júnior, Real Madrid's Brazilian forward.
Incident details and reaction
The trouble began when Vinícius found the net in the 50th minute, after driving in from the left and firing a precise shot into the top corner to give Real Madrid the lead.
As he celebrated near the corner flag, his dance appeared provocative to some in the stands, prompting a clash of players and fans.
The referee then cautioned Vinícius for taunting, while several Benfica players stepped into the scuffle, increasing the tension around the pitch.
Raging Benfica supporters hurled racist remarks toward the forward, who approached the referee to report the abuse, and the official ultimately halted the game.
“And if you thought football solves everything with a simple whistle, think again—racism still tries to rewrite the script. The only offside here is the attitude of those fans.”
“The whistle finally reminded us that football can pause for a cause—yes, sometimes even before extra minutes. And yes, I’ll still take Vinícius’ left-footed thunder any day, as long as there are no encore chants in the stands.”
