The match has already been overshadowed by allegations of racial abuse towards Vinicius Junior by Benfica’s Gianluca Prestianni in the first leg.
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Published February 26, 2026
Real Madrid have suspended a club member who gave a Nazi salute during their Champions League play-off second leg against Benfica, a match already overshadowed by allegations of racism.
Madrid said in a statement that it had “urgently” asked the club’s disciplinary committee to begin “immediate expulsion proceedings” against the player, who was seen on television cameras gesturing in the stands before kick-off on Wednesday night.
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“This (club) member was immediately identified by the club’s security staff shortly after appearing on the broadcast and was immediately expelled from the Santiago Bernabeu Stadium,” the club said in a statement.
“Real Madrid condemns gestures and expressions of this kind that incite violence and hatred in sport and in society.”
The incident came after last week’s first play-off leg, which Madrid won 1-0, was marred by allegations of racial abuse against Vinicius Junior by Benfica’s Gianluca Prestiani.
Prestiani denies the allegations but has been provisionally suspended by UEFA while the incident is investigated, with Benfica losing an appeal against his suspension earlier on Wednesday.
Madrid midfielder Aurélien Choameny said his team’s 2-1 victory over Benfica and their place in the last 16 of the Champions League was “a victory for everyone who stands against racism”.
“We didn’t play our best game of the season, that’s for sure,” Choameni told reporters after Wednesday’s game.
“But I think there’s something more important than this game, more important than football.”
“The dance continues,” Vinicius wrote on social media after the match, after scoring Madrid’s second goal at the Santiago Bernabéu, alongside a photo of a giant “No Racism” banner hanging at the Bernabéu.
Real Madrid coach Alvaro Arbeloa said he was happy when Vinicius found the back of the net.
“(I was) obviously happy. It was a great goal that he scored and it was him, so he deserves it,” Arbeloa said.
“I think it’s even more important without[Kylian]Mbappé and I’m very happy for him.”
Before the game, Arbeloa said France superstar Mbappe would be out for a while to recover from a knee problem.
“After yesterday’s session, we talked to the doctors, we talked to him, and we felt it was best for him to stop playing, recover 100 percent and come back confident and in top shape, with no problems for everything that’s going to happen. That’s obviously very important,” Arbeloa told reporters after the match.
When asked if it was discomfort or an injury, he said: “I would say it’s an injury, but it’s not that serious, it doesn’t seem like a big deal, and I think he’ll be back in the next few days or weeks, and I hope so.”
