Real Madrid’s 1-0 victory over Benfica in Lisbon was overshadowed by an incident involving Vinicius Jr that once again raised serious concerns.
The Brazilian forward reported alleged racist abuse during the Champions League match, prompting referee Francois Letexier to halt play for 10 minutes.
Both teams left the pitch shortly after Vinicius had scored the decisive goal.
As the situation drew widespread attention, prominent figures from outside football publicly expressed their support.
Lewis Hamilton and Tony Bellew were among those who reacted.
Lewis Hamilton and Tony Bellew back Vinicius Jr
Vinicius reported the alleged abuse during the second half of the match, leading to the temporary suspension of play.
The 25-year-old has previously been subjected to racist abuse during his career, and the latest incident sparked strong responses across social media.
Hamilton posted a clear message of solidarity on his Instagram story. “We’re with you, Vini Jr.”
Meanwhile, he also commented on Vinicius’ IG: “You continue to shine. Proud of you, brother, standing with you.”
Former cruiserweight world champion Bellew was more forceful in his reaction.
“Why is this man being subjected to more of this? It’s 2026 ffs! This has to stop,” he tweeted.
“Make an example of this player who has racially abused him and ban him for a full season on no pay! #RacismHasToStop.”
Their messages added to the broader calls for accountability and stronger action within the game.
Vinicius Jr says ‘racists are cowards’ as Gianluca Prestianni denies allegation
After the match, Vinicius addressed the incident in an Instagram post, expressing frustration at what he described as a recurring issue in his career.
“Racists are, above all, cowards,” he wrote. “They need to put their shirts in their mouths to show how weak they are.
“But they have the protection of others who, theoretically, have an obligation to punish them. Nothing that happened today is new in my life or in my team’s life.
“I received a yellow card for celebrating a goal. I still don’t understand why. On the other hand, it was just a poorly executed protocol that served no purpose.”
Benfica midfielder Gianluca Prestianni, who was accused of directing the abuse, has since denied the allegation.
The matter is now likely to be reviewed under UEFA protocols following the temporary suspension of the match.
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