UEFA has opened a formal investigation following Vinicius Junior’s complaint of a racist insult during the Champions League playoff between Real Madrid and Benfica. But beyond the racism probe, another major talking point emerged during the match: refereeing consistency.
Fans argue that while UEFA’s anti-racism protocol was correctly activated, several controversial on-field decisions were not handled with the same firmness.
Real Madrid’s alleged dirty play that went unpunished
During the heated match, cameras captured several moments that are now circulating online:
Eduardo Camavinga steps on a Benfica player’s face (no card shown).
Federico Valverde appearing to throw a punch during a clash (no red card issued).
Vinicius committing a tactical foul to prevent Ríos from shooting (no second yellow card given).
Instead, José Mourinho was sent off amid protests.
Racism investigation vs refereeing consistency
The alleged racist insult is now under UEFA disciplinary review. Vinicius reported that he had been called “monkey,” a racist slur historically directed at Black players in European football. The referee activated UEFA’s anti-racism protocol, pausing the match for nearly ten minutes.
However, critics argue that basic disciplinary consistency must also be maintained to protect the credibility of the competition.
Are anti-racism mechanisms being enforced firmly?
Are violent or unsporting actions judged with the same consistency?
Does inconsistency undermine trust in officiating?
The images circulating online have intensified scrutiny.
In high-stakes Champions League matches, perception matters almost as much as protocol. Referee performance evaluations are typically conducted internally within UEFA’s officiating department.
UEFA is investigating racism against Vinicius Jr.
At the same time, many argue the match exposed unresolved questions about refereeing consistency.
For some fans, the images speak for themselves.
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