Benfica Player Denies Racism Allegations in Heated Champions League Match
Gianluca Prestianni has firmly denied aiming a racial slur towards Vinicius Jr during a tense Champions League play-off tie, while Benfica have argued that the Real Madrid winger was too far away to accurately hear what was said. The incident occurred as Real Madrid secured a narrow 1-0 victory over Benfica in Portugal, with Vinicius scoring the decisive goal in the 50th minute.
Controversy Erupts on the Pitch
Following the goal, Prestianni was observed covering his mouth with his shirt while speaking to Vinicius near the halfway line. The Brazilian international immediately approached referee Francois Letexier, alleging that Prestianni had directed a racist insult at him. In the aftermath, Madrid forward Kylian Mbappe publicly accused Prestianni of calling Vinicius 'mono,' which translates to monkey in English.
In a post-match statement on Instagram, Prestianni wrote: 'I want to clarify that at no time did I direct racist insults to Vini Jr, who regrettably misunderstood what he thought he heard. I was never racist with anyone and I regret the threats I received from Real Madrid players.'
Benfica Backs Player with Video Evidence
Benfica supported their player by posting a video of the incident on their official social media account, accompanied by a caption stating: 'As the images demonstrate, given the distance, the Real Madrid players cannot have heard what they claim to have heard.' This move has added fuel to the ongoing debate about the veracity of the claims.
Strong Reactions from Real Madrid Camp
Kylian Mbappe did not hold back in his criticism after the game, stating: 'What I saw is very clear – number 25 said five times to Vini that you are a monkey. Everyone can have their opinion, but this kind of behavior is unacceptable. It's wonderful to play in the Champions League, but showing this image is terrible for world football.' He further labeled Prestianni as racist, emphasizing that such actions have no place in professional sports.
Vinicius Jr also issued a powerful statement, reflecting on the broader issue of racism in football: 'Racists are, above all, cowards. They need to put their shirts in their mouths to show how weak they are. But they have the protection of others who, theoretically, have an obligation to punish them. Nothing that happened today is new in my life or in my team's life.'
Mourinho Criticizes Vinicius's Celebrations
Amid the controversy, Benfica head coach Jose Mourinho shifted focus to Vinicius's goal celebrations, questioning his behavior. Mourinho said: 'I spoke to Alvaro [Arbeloa] before I understood what the problem was, just to say: 'This guy scores a goal that's out of this world, why does he being stupid in the corner?' Then later when I realise, [and] it seems Vinicius doesn't want to play, we were talking about [whether] we play again.' He urged for a more balanced perspective, avoiding direct accusations against either player.
The clash has sparked widespread discussion in the football community, highlighting ongoing concerns about racism and sportsmanship in high-stakes matches. As investigations likely proceed, the fallout from this incident could have lasting implications for both clubs and players involved.
