Incident between Vinícius Júnior and Prestianni led the referee to initiate the protocol for the first time in a Champions League game. The Benfica player incurs a punishment of up to 10 games.
The meeting between e valid for the playoff for access to the round of 16 of the was marked by the controversial case of racism, involving Vinícius Júnior and Gianluca Prestianni. The incident led the match referee to initiate anti-racism protocol for the first time in a Champions League match.
With a gesture of crossing his arms in the air, forming an ‘X’, referee François Letexier stopped the game at Estádio da Luz. It triggered an anti-racism protocol, developed by and adopted by . Arms crossed high, a signal to players, coaches, fans and other players in the game know that we are facing a report of racial abuse.
It is just an indication, similar to the gesture of using a video referee, but which triggers a procedure that can lead to the abandonment of the game.
The first step is interruption, as the French judge did. For UEFA technicians, the investigation into the case began here. They have access to audio recordings of the game to collect evidence, and at the end of the game they will also have reports from referees, delegates and testimonials from players.
In the case of Luz, Prestianni faces a punishment of up to 10 games and Benfica risks serious sanctions.
O protocol is more designed for cases of racism coming from the bench. After the interruption, it is supposed to be announced at the stadium that the game may be suspended if the abuse continues, given that nthe Light stopped here.
In the 2nd stage, the game was suspended with the teams returning to the dressing rooms. The referee never advanced to this stage, despite threats from the Real Madrid players to leave the pitch.
O The game between Benfica and Real Madrid in the Champions League was the biggest stage where FIFA’s anti-racism protocol has been triggeredbut it wasn’t the only one. Yet last summernot Club World Cup, the gesture was used at the end of the game between Real Madrid and Pachuca. The match was over, but the investigation began anyway.
One of the most serious incidents happened in 2019, in Bulgaria – England. From the stands came racist chants and Nazi salutes. At the time, only the intervention of the English coach prevented the game from being suspended.
