French referee François Letexier stopped the match and activated the anti-racism protocol at the start of the second half of the UEFA Champions League clash between Benfica and Real Madrid after a goal from Vinícius Júnior and the Brazilian star’s controversial celebration in front of the crowd at the Estádio da Luz.

Amid the series of arguments that unfolded near the benches, cameras caught Kylian Mbappé fiercely arguing with Nicolás Otamendi, defending his teammate over the situation he experienced during the match.

Kylian Mbappé defending Vinícius Jr.

The moment Vinícius allegedly receives an insult

Vinícius Júnior denounces alleged racist abuse

The incident quickly escalated into one of the most tense moments of the night. Vinícius Júnior’s celebration led to a confrontation with Argentine youngster Gianluca Prestianni, which resulted in a yellow card for the Real Madrid forward as a warning from the referee. During the exchange, Vinícius reported alleged racist abuse, prompting the official to activate UEFA’s anti-racism protocol.

The Champions League match was halted for several minutes as tension grew inside the stadium. Members of Benfica’s coaching staff approached the Real Madrid bench, triggering a heated exchange in the technical area.

Mourinho and Arbeloa step in during heated moment

Amid the confusion, Álvaro Arbeloa and José Mourinho intervened in an attempt to calm the situation while the referee assessed the events on the pitch.

Play eventually resumed with Real Madrid leading 1-0, but the game remained overshadowed by controversy, Vinícius Júnior’s allegations, and the activation of the anti-racism protocol in a high-stakes Champions League showdown.

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