Benfica vs. Real Madrid: The Champions League match was stopped after Real Madrid players left the field

Real Madrid’s Champions League knockout stage match against Benfica was stopped for 10 minutes after Vinicius Junior reported alleged racist abuse and he and his teammates left the field.

Referee François Letexier made a crossed arms gesture to indicate racist abuse after a conversation with Vinicius.

The Brazilian striker put the Spanish visitors 1-0 ahead in the second half at Estadio da Luz, before he was booked for excessive celebration.

After the clash with Benfica’s Gianluca Pristiani, Vinicius ran towards referee Letixer while pointing at the opposition player.

A Real Madrid statement said that Vinicius informed the referee that he had been subjected to racist chants from the Argentine winger.

Vinicius walked off the field and his Real Madrid teammates followed him, but play resumed 10 minutes later, in the 60th minute.

The match continued until the end, with Real Madrid winning 1-0 after 12 minutes of stoppage time, as a ball thrown from the crowd hit Vinicius’ arm.

After the match, Vinicius issued a statement on Instagram condemning the incident.

Vinicius said: “Racists are, above all, cowards. They should put their shirts in their mouths to show how weak they are.”

“But they enjoy the protection of others who theoretically have an obligation to punish them. Nothing that happened today is new in my life or in the life of my team,” he added.

“I received a yellow card for celebrating a goal. I still don’t understand why. On the other hand, it was just a poorly implemented protocol that served no purpose.”

Benfica striker Vangelis Pavlidis defended his teammate Pristiani.

“I don’t think Priestiani said anything like that to Vinicius. I think it has more to do with the heated rivalry between Brazil and Argentina than anything else,” he said.

Priestiani has not yet responded.