The topic of racism has once again come to the forefront in Spanish stadiums. This time, the conversation is again about Vinicius Junior - the footballer has been facing this "disease" almost every season in recent years.
According to The Athletic, citing La Liga data, 26 cases of racial discrimination against Vinicius have been recorded since October 2021, and he has faced such insults at 10 different stadiums in Spain. These figures show that the pressure on the player is not a "one or two episodes," but a systemic problem.
The latest sensation erupted in the game against Benfica. On 17 February 2026, in the match in Lisbon, Real Madrid won 1-0, but it was reported that the match was stopped for 10-11 minutes according to protocol after Vinicius complained of racism.
At the center of the episode is said to be a quarrel with Benfica player Gianluca Prestiani: the videos show him speaking while covering his mouth with his t-shirt, after which Vinicius claimed to have been insulted. The matter escalated to the point where UEFA officially launched an investigation, and Real Madrid reportedly submitted all available evidence for the investigation.
This situation isn't "new" to Vinicius - on the contrary, it's a painful scenario that has been recurring frequently throughout his career. And worst of all: every time it's not football, but hatred that becomes the "header."
In football, stopping a player as an opponent is normal. But insulting him as a human being is already not sport, it's degradation. Now everyone's attention is focused on how the UEFA investigation will end: it's not just about punishment, but about real mechanisms to "not repeat tomorrow."
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