OGUN, Nigeria (VOICE OF NAIJA)-Benfica has launched a staunch defense of forward Gianluca Prestianni, claiming the player is the target of a “defamation campaign” following allegations of racial abuse directed at Real Madrid star Vinícius Jr.
The incident occurred during Tuesday’s high-stakes Champions League clash in Lisbon.
The match was suspended for 10 minutes after Vinícius Jr. reported the alleged abuse to referee François Letexier, leading to the Real Madrid squad briefly walking off the pitch in protest.
The Allegations and Potential Sanctions Under UEFA’s disciplinary regulations, if Prestianni is found guilty of discriminatory behavior, he faces a minimum 10-match ban from European competition.
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While Prestianni has vehemently denied the claims, Vinícius Jr.—who has frequently been targeted by racism throughout his career—took to Instagram after the match, stating, “Racists are, above all, cowards.”Benfica’s Defense In an official statement released on Wednesday via X (formerly Twitter), Benfica backed their player, citing video evidence of the exchange.
The club argued that the distance between the two players made it impossible for the Real Madrid squad to have accurately heard the alleged remarks.”The Real Madrid players could not have heard what they claim to have heard,” the club stated.
They further added that they “fully support” Prestianni, asserting that his conduct has always been guided by respect and the core values of the institution.
Next Steps
UEFA has officially opened an investigation to review the referee’s report and available broadcast footage. As the football world awaits a verdict, the case has reignited the global conversation regarding player safety and the protocols for handling mid-match incidents of discrimination.