Benfica Unwavering in Support for Prestianni Following UEFA Provisional Ban
Benfica has reaffirmed its steadfast backing for player Gianluca Prestianni after UEFA imposed a provisional one-match ban on the star for alleged racist abuse directed at Real Madrid's Vinicius Jr. last week. The sanction threatens to sideline Prestianni for the crucial second leg of the play-off tie on Wednesday, stemming from an incident that occurred shortly after Vinicius Jr. scored the winning goal in the 50th minute of the first leg.
Club Defiance and Travel to Madrid
In a bold move, the Portuguese club flew to Madrid on Tuesday morning with Prestianni included in the squad, despite the ban. The 20-year-old Argentine received a standing ovation from fans at Lisbon airport, as reported by A Bola, highlighting the strong support from Benfica's supporters. Prestianni has vehemently denied using a racial slur against Vinicius Jr., providing evidence to UEFA as part of their ongoing investigation. Instead, he claims he covered his shirt with his mouth to utter a homophobic insult, a distinction that forms a key part of his defense.
Official Statements and Appeal Plans
Upon notification of the provisional ban, Benfica issued a statement expressing regret over the decision and announcing their intention to appeal. The club hopes for a late ruling that would allow Prestianni to participate in the upcoming match. Club president Rui Costa reinforced this stance on Tuesday, calling the ban unjustified. 'Nothing is proven and the player's absence from this game is not justified,' Costa stated. 'Prestianni is being labeled a racist, but he's anything but racist. I can guarantee that.'
UEFA's Concerns and Potential Consequences
UEFA is believed to have implemented the ban due to concerns that a handshake might not occur between Prestianni and Real Madrid players, echoing past incidents such as Luis Suarez's refusal to shake Patrice Evra's hand in 2012. If found guilty of racially abusing Vinicius Jr., Prestianni could face a ban of up to 10 matches, underscoring the severity of the allegations.
Reactions from Players and Mourinho's Controversy
Real Madrid superstar Kylian Mbappe was among those supporting Vinicius Jr., who reported the incident to referee Francois Letexier immediately after it happened. Prestianni countered by claiming that Mbappe had 'misinterpreted what he thinks he heard.' After the match, Trent Alexander-Arnold added his voice to the criticism, labeling Prestianni's behavior as 'disgusting.'
Benfica manager Jose Mourinho faced widespread criticism for his comments, which seemed to blame Vinicius Jr. for provoking the home fans and Prestianni with his exuberant goal celebration. Mourinho argued that Benfica could not be a racist club, citing their famous black player Eusebio, but added that Vinicius Jr. had 'incited' the stadium. 'There is something wrong because it happens in every stadium,' Mourinho remarked. 'Every stadium that Vinicius plays (in) something happens. Always.'
Mourinho's Management and Media Silence
Daily Mail Sport revealed last week that Mourinho had banned all mention of Real Madrid among his Benfica squad following the racism allegations, focusing instead on their weekend league match. Speaking to Benfica's in-house media, Mourinho described the emotional toll of the situation. 'The game was truly demanding, in every aspect,' he said. 'Until the 50th minute, it was a game of maximum intensity... But I also have to acknowledge that from the 50th minute until now - and this won't end our conversation - it hasn't been easy to manage emotionally everything that has happened and continues to happen.'
At a post-match press conference after Benfica's 3-0 win over AVS, Mourinho declined to comment further on the backlash, stating, 'I don't want to comment. I repeat that it has been difficult for everyone, I won't specify the level of difficulty. Today we were all able to be professional and do our job.' Notably, Mourinho will not conduct a press conference ahead of the second leg against Real Madrid due to a suspension from a red card received last week.
