Real Madrid vs. Benfica Referee Explains Activation of Racism Protocol in Vinicius-Prestiani Incident

French referee François Letexier has detailed how he managed an incident during the Real Madrid vs. Benfica match last February, part of the Champions League playoff first leg. Letexier activated UEFA's anti-discrimination protocol after Brazilian forward Vinicius Jr. reported receiving racist abuse from Gianluca Prestiani, leading to a ten-minute stoppage in play to gather necessary information about the incident.

Letexier stated that he did not directly witness the alleged abuse, which prompted him to prioritize investigating the incident before taking any action. The French referee explained, "When a player comes to tell me that he has been the victim of racist insults that I did not witness, I must take what he says into consideration, but I cannot make a decision based on that alone, which seems legitimate to me."

He added that the moment was "very special" given the lack of complete information at the time, emphasizing that he sought to make the situation clear to everyone.

In subsequent investigations, Prestiani denied directing racist insults but admitted to using homophobic slurs. This led to a six-match ban, with three matches suspended, due to his behavior being classified as "phobic."

Letexier's handling of the situation received praise from UEFA officials and the wider sports community for his ability to manage the crisis and strictly apply the official protocol.

Real Madrid ultimately won the match 1-0. The incident sparked widespread debate, particularly after Prestiani was observed covering his mouth with his shirt during his conversation with the opponent.