Infantino says he is “shocked and saddened” by alleged racist abuse

February 19, 2026 Oliver Obel

FIFA president Gianni Infantino has condemned alleged racist abuse directed at Real Madrid forward Vinicius Junior during his side’s Champions League meeting with Benfica, calling the reports “shocking” and urging decisive action from football authorities.

The controversy emerged during Madrid’s 1-0 win in the first leg of their play-off tie. Vinicius scored the decisive goal, but the match narrative quickly shifted after Benfica’s Gianluca Prestianni was accused of making racist remarks toward the Brazilian.

In a statement issued after the game, Infantino said he was “shocked and saddened” by what had been reported during the fixture between the Spanish and Portuguese clubs. He stressed that discrimination has no place in football or wider society and called on relevant bodies to hold anyone responsible to account.

The FIFA president also referenced the actions of referee François Letexier, who implemented UEFA’s three-step anti-racism protocol. The procedure which includes a crossed-arm gesture to signal a temporary halt is designed to address discriminatory behavior inside stadiums and can ultimately lead to suspension or abandonment of a match if incidents persist.

Commending the referee’s response, Infantino added that “FIFA and football show full solidarity to victims of racism and any form of discrimination,” before reiterating: “No to racism! No to any form of discrimination!”

Support from teammates

Vinicius later posted an emotional message on social media, writing: “Racists are, above all, cowards. They need to put their shirts in their mouths to show how weak they are.”

The 25-year-old has previously spoken about being targeted by racist abuse in Spain, and the latest allegation prompted immediate backing from teammate Kylian Mbappé. The France captain said he heard the alleged comments and has called for firm sanctions if the accusations are substantiated.

UEFA review in progress

UEFA confirmed that an Ethics and Disciplinary Inspector has been appointed to examine the case. In a brief statement, European football’s governing body said official match reports are under review and that any disciplinary decisions would be published on its website.

Under UEFA regulations, racist conduct can carry a suspension of at least 10 matches, depending on severity and findings. However, disciplinary proceedings rarely conclude within days, making it unlikely that any ruling would affect next week’s return leg in Madrid.

Prestianni has denied the allegations. In a social media post, he said: “I want to clarify that at no point did I direct racist insults at Vinícius Jr, who unfortunately misunderstood what he thought he heard. I have never been racist toward anyone.”

The outcome of UEFA’s investigation will determine whether formal charges follow. The case once again places scrutiny on how European football enforces its anti-discrimination policies an issue governing bodies have pledged repeatedly to confront more forcefully in recent years.

Sources: FIFA statement; UEFA statement; player social media posts.