Benfica's Gianluca Prestianni Trains at Bernabeu Despite Uefa Suspension Over Racism Allegations
In a controversial move, Benfica's Gianluca Prestianni took part in a training session at the Bernabeu on Tuesday, despite being provisionally suspended by Uefa from his side's Champions League play-off second leg against Real Madrid. The suspension follows allegations that the 20-year-old racially abused Real Madrid forward Vinicius Jr during last week's first leg in Lisbon.
Prestianni Denies Racist Language Claims
Prestianni has firmly denied using racist language towards Vinicius, asserting that the Brazilian player misheard him. However, Uefa announced the provisional suspension on Monday, pending a full investigation into the incident. This decision bars Prestianni from participating in Wednesday's crucial match, though he was permitted to train with his team at Real Madrid's iconic stadium.
Mourinho's Involvement and Absence
Benfica manager Jose Mourinho, who is also suspended from the second leg after being sent off in the first leg's 1-0 defeat, oversaw the training session. This marked his return to the Bernabeu, where he previously managed Real Madrid. Mourinho did not hold a pre-match press conference, as allowed under his suspension, and his assistant coach Joao Tralhao declined to comment on Prestianni's situation, stating, "We are not going to talk about the topic you asked about."
Real Madrid's Response and Support for Vinicius
Real Madrid coach Alvaro Arbeloa has publicly offered his support to Vinicius, while goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois condemned both racism and homophobia in strong terms. Courtois emphasized that discrimination in any form is unacceptable in football, saying, "It's just as serious because they are homophobic insults." He also criticized the behavior of some Benfica fans, who were seen making monkey gestures during the match, calling it "deplorable" and "shameful."
Conflicting Accounts and Further Allegations
While Prestianni denies racism, Real Madrid's Aurelien Tchouameni reported that Prestianni admitted to directing a homophobic comment towards Vinicius, rather than using racist language. This adds complexity to the investigation, as Uefa must now consider multiple forms of alleged abuse. Courtois addressed this, noting that homophobic insults are equally severe and should not be justified by on-field actions.
Mourinho's Comments and Criticism
In post-match remarks, Mourinho suggested that Vinicius's goal celebration might have provoked the incident, stating that "something happens, always" in matches involving the Brazilian. This drew heavy criticism from figures like Vincent Kompany, Bayern Munich's head coach, and anti-discrimination charity Kick It Out, which accused Mourinho of "gaslighting." Courtois countered this, defending Vinicius's celebration as normal and asserting that it cannot excuse alleged racist behavior.
Preparations for the Match
With Mourinho suspended, assistant coach Tralhao indicated that Benfica has prepared for various scenarios ahead of the second leg. He said, "We prepared this match anticipating every scenario that may happen... From our side, as staff, we prepared the team, we prepared all the scenarios so that tomorrow we can perform at our level." The outcome of Uefa's investigation could have significant implications for both players and the clubs involved.
