Benfica Firmly Denies Prestianni Confessed to Racist Abuse of Vinicius Jr
Benfica has released a new statement categorically denying claims that Gianluca Prestianni admitted to racially abusing Real Madrid star Vinicius Junior. The Portuguese club addressed recent media reports alleging the Argentine player confessed his guilt to teammates following a controversial incident during their Champions League tie.
UEFA Investigation and Suspension
Prestianni was suspended by UEFA for the second leg of their Champions League playoff against Real Madrid on Wednesday night. The European football governing body launched an investigation after Vinicius reported that Prestianni used a racial slur during the first leg in Portugal. Real Madrid progressed to the last 16 with a 3-1 aggregate victory, though the tie was overshadowed by the racism allegations.
The incident occurred after Vinicius opened the scoring and received a yellow card for his celebrations. The Brazilian forward told the referee that Prestianni had directed racist abuse at him, with the Benfica player allegedly pulling his shirt over his mouth during the exchange.
Conflicting Accounts and Media Reports
Prestianni publicly denied the allegations immediately after the match, claiming Vinicius had "misinterpreted" what was said. However, Portuguese media outlets subsequently reported that the 20-year-old later admitted his guilt to teammates and offered apologies within the squad.
Benfica's statement directly contradicts these reports: "Sport Lisboa e Benfica categorically denies that the player Prestianni has communicated to the squad or the club's structure that he has uttered a racist insult to the player Vinicius Jr, from Real Madrid."
Club's Position and Player's Defense
The club clarified that Prestianni did apologize to teammates "for the incident that occurred during the match against Real Madrid, regretting the dimension and consequences of it and assuring everyone, as he has done since the first hour, that he is not racist."
In his original social media post addressing the controversy, Prestianni stated: "I want to clarify that at no time did I direct racist insults at the player Vinicius Junior, who unfortunately misinterpreted what he thought he heard. I have never been racist and I regret the threats I received from Real Madrid players."
Potential Consequences and Club Response
UEFA's investigation could result in a 10-match ban for Prestianni if he is found guilty of racial abuse. Benfica expressed regret about being "deprived of the player while the process is still under investigation" and announced they would appeal UEFA's suspension decision, though acknowledging the timing would likely have no practical effect on the second leg.
The club emphasized its "unwavering commitment to combating all forms of racism or discrimination," citing this as part of their historical identity reflected in their community work, the Benfica Foundation, and club legends like Eusébio.
Vinicius's Response and Broader Context
Vinicius received support from Real Madrid and scored in the second leg to help secure their progression. On social media, he wrote: "Racists are, above all, cowards. They need to put their shirts over their mouths to demonstrate how weak they are. But they have the protection of others who, theoretically, have the obligation to punish them."
The Brazilian forward added: "Nothing that happened here is new in my life or my family's. I received a yellow card for celebrating a goal. I still don't understand why. On the other hand, it was just a poorly executed protocol that served no purpose. I don't like appearing in situations like this, especially after a great victory when the headlines have to be about Real Madrid, but it's necessary."
The case continues as UEFA conducts its investigation, with Benfica maintaining their player's innocence while Vinicius highlights what he describes as ongoing issues with racism in football.
