UEFA established a three-step racism protocol in 2009 to address incidents of discrimination inside stadiums during matches. The procedure grants referees the authority to halt play, suspend games, or abandon fixtures if racist behaviour persists, aiming to protect players and enforce zero tolerance.
The protocol is activated when a referee becomes aware of a racist incident, whether reported by a player or observed directly. It follows these steps:
- First step: The referee stops the match. If the incident involves spectators, an announcement is made over the public address system calling for the racist behaviour to cease immediately.
- Second step: If the behaviour continues, the game is paused for five to 10 minutes. Players are taken off the pitch while a further announcement is made to reiterate the demand to stop.
- Third step: Should the racist conduct resume after the second restart, the referee has the power to abandon the match entirely.
Abandonment occurs only after assessing the security of players and the public. Any abandoned match is automatically referred to UEFA’s disciplinary authorities for further investigation and potential sanctions against the responsible club or individuals.
The protocol has been referenced in recent high-profile cases, including the February 17, 2026, UEFA Champions League knockout play-off first leg between Benfica and Real Madrid, where referee François Letexier halted play for approximately 10 minutes after an allegation of racist abuse toward Vinícius Júnior. Similar procedures align with FIFA’s global anti-racism guidelines, which include a crossed-arms “No Racism Gesture” to signal activation.
UEFA continues to promote the protocol as part of broader efforts to combat racism in European football, emphasizing education, reporting, and strict enforcement.