Sports News of Wednesday, 18 February 2026Source: www.ghanaweb.comIn a bid to curtail racial abuse in football, governing bodies introduced the anti-racism protocol to deal with offenders. It empowers players and referees to halt matches if racial abuse occurs and gives referees the authority to suspend or even abandon games if the abuse continues. The Three Steps:Initial Warning: The referee stops the game when reports of racist behavior emerge. The Vinícius Jr alleged racial abuse by Gianluca PrestianniThe match between Benfica and Real Madrid at the Estádio da Luz in Lisbon on Tuesday, February 17, 2026, was halted for 10 minutes after Vinícius reported racial abuse by Prestianni to referee François Letexier. The referee then consulted officials from both clubs, and play resumed with the matter referred to UEFA’s disciplinary board for further investigation.

Source: GhanaWeb February 18, 2026 17:44 UTC