On Thursday, Real Madrid announced that it had submitted evidence to UEFA regarding allegations made by their forward, Vinicius Junior, who claimed to have been subjected to racial insults by Gianluca Prestianni of Benfica during a UEFA Champions League match. This incident occurred on Tuesday, during which Real Madrid secured a 1-0 victory over the Portuguese team. The Spanish club has expressed its gratitude for the support Vinicius has received since the incident, indicating the seriousness with which they treat such allegations.

Real Madrid's statement emphasized their commitment to work collaboratively with various institutions to combat racism, violence, and hatred in both sports and society at large. The match saw a significant pause of 11 minutes following Vinicius's accusation, which he made shortly after scoring a goal. This highlights the need for immediate and appropriate responses to incidents of racism in sports, as well as the broader societal implications such events carry.

In response to the allegations, Prestianni has denied the claims and suggested that Vinicius misunderstood what he thought he heard. Meanwhile, Benfica has voiced its support for the winger, while UEFA has appointed an ethics and disciplinary inspector to look into the matter. This situation underscores the ongoing challenges within the sports community in addressing racism and ensuring a safe and respectful environment for all athletes.