UEFA suspended Gianluca Prestianni for the second leg of Benfica's Champions League clash against Real Madrid on Wednesday evening, ruling him out of the match. The suspension followed UEFA's launch of an investigation into accusations that Prestianni racially abused Real Madrid star Vinicius Junior. If found guilty by UEFA, Prestianni faces a potential 10-match ban.
The investigation centers on an incident during the first leg in Portugal, where Vinicius Junior informed the referee that Prestianni had employed a racial slur after opening the scoring and being booked for his celebrations. Prestianni rejected the accusations, stating Vinicius Junior had 'misinterpreted' his words after covering his mouth with his shirt. Conflicting reports have emerged about Prestianni's acknowledgment of the incident.
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.
Portuguese media outlets have suggested Prestianni acknowledged his wrongdoing to his teammates and offered an apology. However, Benfica categorically denies that Prestianni communicated to the squad or the club's structure that he uttered a racist insult to Vinicius Junior. According to reports, Prestianni apologized to his team-mates for the incident that occurred during the match against Real Madrid, regretting its dimension and consequences, and assured everyone he is not racist.
Benfica responded to the suspension by expressing regret and announcing an appeal. Benfica also reaffirmed its unwavering commitment to combating all forms of racism or discrimination. In the second leg, Vinicius Junior scored to aid Real Madrid's advancement in the Champions League.
As has already been made public, the player apologised to his team-mates 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.
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.
The club regrets being deprived of the player whilst the process is still under investigation and will appeal this UEFA decision, even though the deadlines in question are unlikely to have any practical effect on the second leg of the Champions League play-off.
Benfica also reaffirms its unwavering commitment to combating all forms of racism or discrimination, values that are part of its historical identity and are reflected in its daily actions, its global community, the work of the Benfica Foundation, and major figures in the club's history, such as Eusebio.
Racists are, above all, cowards.