Benfica Midfielder Denies Racist Abuse, Alleges Height Taunts from Vinicius Jr
Gianluca Prestianni, the Benfica midfielder accused of racially abusing Vinicius Jr during last week's Champions League playoff clash, is reportedly claiming that the Real Madrid winger referred to him as a dwarf or midget. The Argentine player, who has received a provisional one-match ban from UEFA, is set to miss the crucial second leg of the tie on Wednesday. This follows the ugly scenes that erupted after Vinicius scored the winning goal in the 50th minute of the first leg in Lisbon.
Allegations and Counterclaims in the Heated Dispute
Prestianni is alleged to have directed the Spanish word 'mono', meaning 'monkey', at Vinicius after the Brazilian's mocking celebration in front of Benfica supporters. However, the 20-year-old star has firmly denied using any racist language. Instead, he claims he used the homophobic slur 'maricon', Spanish for 'f****t', in retaliation after being taunted about his height. Standing at just 5 feet 5 inches, Prestianni is among the shortest players in the Champions League, and according to reports from The Times, his primary defence hinges on this alleged provocation.
Insiders have indicated to the newspaper that this defence will not be accepted as an excuse for using racist or discriminatory language. The match was significantly delayed by 10 minutes after Vinicius made the accusation of racist abuse to the referee, following an incident where Prestianni was seen covering his mouth with his shirt while speaking to the Brazilian.
Support and Condemnation from the Football World
Kylian Mbappe, who was present at the match, claimed he heard Prestianni use the racist insult five times. The French star insisted after the game that the footballer should never be allowed to compete in the Champions League again. Both racist and homophobic abuse are clear breaches of Article 14 of UEFA's disciplinary rules, meaning Prestianni could face a lengthy ban regardless of whether his defence is believed. It is important to note that taunts about a player's physical appearance, such as height, weight, or baldness, are not covered by these regulations.
Benfica have stood firmly in defence of their player, releasing a statement expressing their 'regret' over UEFA's decision to impose a provisional one-match suspension while the governing body conducts a full investigation. The Portuguese club has also expressed their intention to appeal the decision, hoping it will be overturned in time for the second leg in Madrid on Wednesday.
Club President's Strong Defence and UEFA's Stance
Club president Rui Costa reinforced this position on Tuesday, calling the decision to ban Prestianni unjustified. 'Nothing is proven and the player's absence from this game is not justified,' Costa said. 'Prestianni is being labeled a racist, but he's anything but racist. I can guarantee that.' UEFA is believed to have implemented the ban due to concerns that a handshake might not take place between Prestianni and the Real Madrid players, echoing a similar incident involving Luis Suarez and Patrice Evra in 2012.
Should Prestianni be found guilty of racially abusing Vinicius, he could receive a ban of up to 10 matches. This would mirror the punishment handed to Slavia Prague defender Ondrej Kudela for racially abusing Rangers star Glen Kamara in 2021. The case underscores the ongoing challenges in football regarding discrimination and the strict enforcement of UEFA's policies.
