FIFA President Gianni Infantino has strongly condemned an incident of alleged racism directed at Vinícius Júnior during the UEFA Champions League playoff fixture between SL Benfica and Real Madrid CF.
The incident occurred during Tuesday’s clash on February 17, 2026, a match in which Vinícius Júnior proved decisive on the pitch.
The Brazilian forward scored the only goal of the playoff encounter, sealing victory for the Spanish giants in a tense European night overshadowed by reports of discriminatory abuse from the stands.
In a strongly-worded statement, Infantino expressed his shock and called for firm accountability.
“I was shocked and saddened to see the incident of alleged racism towards Vinícius Júnior in the UEFA Champions League match between SL Benfica and Real Madrid CF.
There is absolutely no room for racism in our sport and in society – we need all the relevant stakeholders to take action and hold those responsible to account.
At FIFA, through the Global Stand Against Racism and the Players’ Voice Panel, we are committed to ensuring that players, officials and fans are respected and protected, and that appropriate action is taken when incidents occur.
I commend referee François Letexier for activating the anti-racism protocol by using the arm gesture to stop the game and address the situation.
FIFA and football shows full solidarity to victims of racism and any form of discrimination. I will always continue to reiterate: No to racism! No to any form of discrimination!”
The referee’s swift activation of the anti-racism protocol ensured the matter was immediately addressed during the game.
The incident has once again intensified calls for stronger sanctions and unified action across global football to eliminate racism from the sport.
