UEFA Fines Benfica 73,000 Euros and Orders Stadium Closure After Real Madrid Match

UEFA fined Benfica 40,000 euros for "racist and/or discriminatory behaviour" by supporters during the Champions League match against Real Madrid on February 17, 2026, the governing body announced on Wednesday, March 25. The UEFA Control, Ethics and Disciplinary Body also imposed additional fines of 25,000 euros for objects thrown onto the pitch and 8,000 euros for the use of a laser pointer, according to Reuters and ANSA. The total financial penalty against the Lisbon club reached 73,000 euros across all three charges. UEFA further ordered a partial closure of Benfica's Estádio da Luz for a home European match, though that sanction was suspended for a one-year probationary period. According to SAPO, the closure specifically concerns 500 seats in sectors 10 and/or 11 in the south stand of the stadium. Benfica assistant coach Pedro Luis Ferreira Machado was also suspended for one European match for unsporting conduct.

Prestianni investigation still open, no new sanction yet The disciplinary proceedings against Benfica winger Gianluca Prestianni remain ongoing, with UEFA's Wednesday statement making no mention of a new sanction against the Argentine player. Prestianni, born January 31, 2006, had been provisionally suspended by UEFA for the return leg in Madrid after Vinícius Júnior accused him of directing a racist slur at him following a Real Madrid goal during the February 17 first leg. Real Madrid won that return match 2-1, sealing a 3-1 aggregate victory and advancing from the playoff round. Prestianni and Benfica denied the allegation, with the player arguing, according to Ouest France, that Vinícius "had unfortunately misinterpreted what he thought he heard," while the club stated that Prestianni "is not racist." N-tv and SRF News reported that video footage showed Prestianni holding his shirt in front of his mouth during the verbal exchange with Vinícius. The investigation into the player's conduct has not yet produced a final ruling.

Fan gestures caught on video, club acted before UEFA ruling The February 17 match at the Estádio da Luz was overshadowed by multiple incidents beyond the Prestianni allegation, with sections of the Benfica support making racist gestures toward Vinícius Júnior after he scored for Real Madrid. According to N-tv and SRF News, two fans were captured on video making monkey gestures directed at the Brazilian forward, and the match had to be interrupted. Benfica moved ahead of UEFA's ruling by provisionally sanctioning the season tickets of five supporters identified as being involved in the racist incidents in the stands, according to Ouest France. The club also announced full cooperation with UEFA's investigation, according to sportowefakty.wp.pl. Portuguese sports commentator Nuno Dias, speaking on CMTV, said the fine was "inevitable" and praised Benfica's decision to act against identifiable members.

„Benfica's action toward the members who were easily identifiable was also an act that really had to happen. Benfica could not have behaved in any way other than identifying and acting against the members.” (Benfica's action toward the members who were easily identifiable was also an act that really had to happen. Benfica could not have behaved in any way other than identifying and acting against the members.) — Nuno Dias via SAPO

Mourinho's club faces risk of heavier punishment if fans reoffend Jose Mourinho, who returned to Benfica as manager in September 2025, now oversees a club under heightened UEFA scrutiny for the next twelve months. The one-year probationary period on the stadium closure sanction means any repeat of discriminatory incidents by Benfica supporters at a European home match could trigger the partial closure automatically. Former Benfica player and commentator Diamantino Miranda expressed concern about the suspended sentence, noting that the club's supporters had already been barred from attending several recent European matches. CMTV commentator Paulo Andrade warned that fines accumulate across a season and can reach "hundreds of thousands of euros," arguing that better identification of offending individuals is essential. Vítor Pinto, another CMTV commentator, drew a contrast between Benfica's handling of the fan incidents — which he described as positive — and its approach to the Prestianni case, saying the club "did not seek for the player to apologize" and "immediately went on the attack on social media against the Real Madrid players." The Prestianni investigation remains the unresolved element of a case that, according to web search results, marks at least the twentieth alleged racist abuse incident involving Vinícius Júnior during his eight years at Real Madrid.

Vinícius Júnior has faced repeated incidents of alleged racist abuse during his career at Real Madrid, with web search results indicating the February 17 match against Benfica represented at least the twentieth such case across eight years at the club. The February 17 first leg ended 1-0 to Real Madrid in Lisbon, with Vinícius scoring the decisive goal that triggered the crowd reaction. UEFA's provisional suspension of Prestianni for the return leg was among the measures taken before the disciplinary body concluded its formal proceedings. Benfica, founded on February 28, 1904, as Sport Lisboa, is one of Portugal's most decorated clubs and competes in the Primeira Liga, the top flight of Portuguese football.