By Martin Graham
As Vinicius Jr. sat alone in the dugout at the Estadio da Luz, discussions unfolded around him between players and coaching staff while the Real Madrid forward quietly drank water.
The Brazilian had informed referee Francois Letexier that he had been subjected to racist abuse by Benfica midfielder Gianluca Prestianni, an accusation the Argentine has rejected. Letexier responded by halting the match and signalling the allegation by raising his arms in a crossed gesture.
Shortly before the interruption, the 25-year-old had produced a superb goal that ultimately secured a 1-0 victory for Real Madrid in the first leg of their Champions League knockout play-off tie. After a 10-minute delay, the contest resumed, and the French referee will now submit his report to UEFA for further investigation.
Under UEFA’s system, introduced in 2009, officials can apply a three-stage approach when racism is reported. If the referee has not personally heard the remark, play is stopped and the details are relayed to the fourth official. When abuse comes from the stands, a stadium announcement is issued. Continued misconduct can lead to a longer suspension of play and a further warning, with abandonment of the fixture remaining the final measure.
Sanctions and previous cases
In 2013, UEFA published its “European football united against racism” policy, developed when Gianni Infantino served as general secretary. The framework set out 11 resolutions outlining duties for footballers, coaches, clubs, and supporters.
Infantino advocated for a suspension of at least 10 matches for players found responsible for racist behaviour. That standard was applied in 2021 when Slavia Prague’s Ondrej Kudela received a 10-game ban for racially abusing Rangers midfielder Glen Kamara.
The crossed-arm “X” signal used by Letexier is not included in UEFA’s guidelines. FIFA introduced the gesture in 2024 to make clear to everyone in the stadium why a match has been paused.
According to Kick It Out chair Sanjay Bhandari, the three-step procedure has not been activated frequently, but when it has, it has sparked significant discussion. He described it as “the least bad of a set of terrible options,” adding that dissatisfaction remains because no clearly superior alternative has emerged.
Debate over whether it is enough
Bhandari said the approach tends to focus on ensuring the game continues, though he acknowledged referees have limited authority. If an official hears racist language directly, they can dismiss the offender. Otherwise, the structured protocol is the only course available.
Former FIFA and UEFA assistant referee Darren Cann explained that match officials are trained to reassure the affected player that the claim is treated seriously. He noted that while players generally carry on, they cannot be compelled to do so and may instead be substituted. Ending the match altogether is considered the ultimate step.
The procedure was also applied in the Premier League’s opening fixture this season at Liverpool, when referee Anthony Taylor stopped Bournemouth’s game at Anfield after Antoine Semenyo reported abuse from a spectator.
Bhandari added that Kick It Out would support any side choosing to leave the field in solidarity with a teammate. Comparing it to another setting, he said that if an actor were racially insulted in a theatre, no one would expect them to remain on stage. Yet, he acknowledged that discussions repeatedly return to the same question: what other solution is available?
