Real Madrid expels club member after Nazi salute incident ahead of Champions League clash with Benfica

On February 25, 2026, Real Madrid issued an emergency official statement that confirmed the suspension of a club member on the spot who was caught performing a live television Nazi salute. The incident and massively criticised act occurred in the Santiago Bernabeu area, in the Animation Stand (Grada de Animacion), just before the beginning of the match. This event took place prior to the second-leg match of the UEFA Champions League, which was between Real Madrid and Benfica in the knockout round.

Security at the stadium responded remarkably fast when the gesture was seen on screen and ejected the person prior to the start of the game. The club underscored the fact that such conduct is against the core of its beliefs. It reaffirmed its zero tolerance for hate symbols, extremism and discrimination in the game and society.

Zero-tolerance action taken at the Santiago Bernabéu

The club confirms that security in the stadium was only minutes after the broadcast footage was shared. This was immediately realised, located and taken out of the stadium until the match started. Real Madrid also stated that it had officially asked its Disciplinary Commission to initiate legal expulsion measures, stating that such establishments were inciting violent and hateful sport and society. The club once again made it clear that its policy of zero tolerance for extremist symbols is long-standing, urging members to remember that the given behaviour is a direct contravention of the rules at the stadium and the club's values.

The match proceeds amid heightened tensions and a strong response.

The case occurred within an already tense situation. The initial match in Lisbon had been marred by claims of racial abuse committed towards Vinícius Júnior, followed by Gianluca Prestianni of Benfica being suspended to represent the home match. In that context, the quick reaction was taken as a strong institutional position of Real Madrid as a company against hate and discrimination.


Neither was the case that the football had been put up in spite of the scandal that surrounded the pre-match event. On that night, Real Madrid brought a 2-1 win to the game to advance to the Next Round 16 of the Champions League with a 3-1 goal aggregate. Vinícius Júnior scored the 80th-minute goal after Benfica was levelled by used by Aurélien Tchouaméni after Rafa Silva scored the first goal.

After the final whistle, Tchouamenen dedicated the victory to all the people who are against racism, which was also consistent with the actions of the club before the evening. The way Real Madrid managed the incident is one of the factors that underpinned its philosophy of handling the matter with decisive action, intolerance and extremism have no room at its Bernabéu.


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