Portuguese giants Benfica have officially filed a complaint with UEFA regarding an incident involving Real Madrid midfielder Federico Valverde during their Champions League clash on Tuesday night.
La Liga Giants Face UEFA Probe as Benfica Accuse Valverde of Elbowing Star
The governing body of European football will now review allegations of violent conduct against the Uruguayan international.
The complaint stems from a controversial moment in the second half of the playoff fixture, which saw Real Madrid secure a narrow 1-0 victory at the Estádio da Luz.
Fede Valverde appeared to swing his arm to get free of Benfica’s Samuel Dahl. pic.twitter.com/026E4Tvr72
— ESPN FC (@ESPNFC) February 17, 2026
According to sources close to the Portuguese club, the incident in question involved Valverde and Benfica left-back Samuel Dahl.
As Dahl attempted to challenge the Madrid star down the flank, Valverde appeared to swing his right arm towards the defender’s head.
Footage of the exchange shows the Real Madrid player making contact with Dahl, though the severity of the blow remains a point of contention.
However, Benfica officials believe the action warranted an immediate red card from the match officials, who failed to penalize the play at the time.
The complaint highlights what Benfica perceives as dangerous play that endangered the safety of their player.
The club argues that such actions have no place in the sport and expects UEFA’s disciplinary body to take retrospective action if the officials missed the call during the game.
This development adds further tension to an already heated encounter.
The match was previously marred by a separate unsavoury incident where Real Madrid’s Vinícius Jr. alerted referees to alleged racist abuse directed at him by Benfica’s Gianluca Prestianni.
For Real Madrid, the complaint presents an unwelcome distraction following their hard-fought victory.
Valverde, a key component of Carlo Ancelotti’s midfield, now faces the possibility of a suspension should UEFA deem his actions worthy of punishment.
UEFA will now study video evidence and referee reports before deciding whether to open formal disciplinary proceedings against the 26-year-old.
Benfica awaits the outcome as they seek accountability for an incident they believe endangered one of their players during the high-stakes European tie.
