Benfica suspended five supporters for racist behaviour during their recent Champions League fixture against Real Madrid. The Lisbon club announced the decision after identifying the individuals through stadium security footage and eyewitness reports. The bans prevent the fans from attending any matches at the Estadio da Luz or away fixtures for an indefinite period.
The club confirmed it is working with Portuguese police to determine if criminal charges will follow. Benfica stated it maintains a zero-tolerance policy towards discrimination and aims to preserve the values of sport. This move follows UEFA's increased scrutiny of fan conduct in European competitions this season.
Real Madrid players reportedly faced verbal abuse during the warm-up and the second half of the match, according to Portuguese newspaper A Bola. Benfica officials met with representatives from the Portuguese Football Federation to discuss further preventative measures. The club intends to implement stricter identification checks for high-risk matches in the future, per Reuters.
