Benfica’s Gianluca Prestianni Responds to Vinícius Racism Claims/ Newslooks/ WASHINGTON/ J. Mansour/ Morning Edition/ Benfica forward Gianluca Prestianni has denied racially insulting Real Madrid’s Vinícius Júnior during a Champions League playoff match. UEFA has appointed a special investigator to review the incident, which halted the game under anti-racism protocols. The controversy has intensified debate over racism in European soccer.
Vinícius Júnior Racism Allegation Quick Looks
- Incident occurred during Champions League playoff in Lisbon
- UEFA appoints special investigator
- Prestianni denies making racial insult
- Vinícius alleges he was called a “monkey”
- Match paused under anti-racism protocol
- Potential 10-match ban under UEFA rules
Deep Look: Benfica’s Gianluca Prestianni Responds to Vinícius Racism Claims
Benfica forward Gianluca Prestianni has strongly denied racially insulting Vinícius Júnior during a heated Champions League playoff match against Real Madrid, as UEFA launched a formal investigation into the incident.
The controversy unfolded Tuesday at Benfica’s Stadium of Light in Lisbon, where the first leg of the playoff was temporarily halted for nearly 10 minutes after Vinícius reported being racially abused. Television footage showed Prestianni covering his mouth with his jersey while speaking to the Brazilian forward, prompting suspicion and triggering UEFA’s anti-racism protocol.
According to Vinícius, Prestianni called him a “monkey,” a slur that has frequently been directed at the Madrid star throughout his career in Spain. The referee, François Letexier of France, stopped play after being alerted to the allegation. Vinícius, visibly upset, briefly sat in the dugout while officials addressed the situation.
UEFA confirmed Wednesday that it had appointed a special investigator to gather evidence and determine whether disciplinary action is warranted. Under UEFA regulations, players found guilty of racial abuse can face bans of up to 10 matches.
Prestianni, 20, took to social media platform X to deny the accusation.
“I have never been racist with anyone,” the Argentine said, adding that he regretted receiving threats from Madrid players and supporters. He maintained that Vinícius misunderstood what was said during the confrontation.
“I want to clarify that at no time did I direct racist insults at the player Vinícius Júnior, who unfortunately misinterpreted what he thought he had heard,” Prestianni wrote.
Benfica issued statements supporting their player, describing the situation as a “defamation campaign” and welcoming UEFA’s investigation. The Portuguese club argued that Real Madrid players who claimed to have heard the insult were positioned too far away to clearly understand what was said. Benfica also released video footage on social media intended to bolster its claim.
The tension escalated after Vinícius celebrated his 50th-minute goal by dancing near the corner flag in front of Benfica supporters. Some fans responded angrily, throwing objects toward the Madrid players. Shortly afterward, Prestianni confronted Vinícius, leading to the exchange at the center of the controversy.
Madrid ultimately won the match 1-0 and will host the second leg on Feb. 25. The aggregate winner will advance to the round of 16 in Europe’s premier club competition.
Following the game, Vinícius posted a message on Instagram addressing the incident.
“Racists are, above all, cowards. They need to cover their mouths with their shirts to show how they are weak,” he wrote, alongside a photo of his celebration. “Nothing that happened today is new to me in my life and in my family’s life.”
Vinícius, who is Black, has been repeatedly targeted by racist abuse in Spanish stadiums in recent seasons, sparking widespread condemnation and renewed efforts to combat discrimination in football. His experiences have placed him at the forefront of anti-racism campaigns within the sport.
Several Madrid teammates publicly supported him. Star forward Kylian Mbappé posted on social media urging Vinícius to continue celebrating as he wishes, writing, “Dance, Vini, and please never stop.” Mbappé also expressed strong criticism toward Prestianni.
Benfica coach José Mourinho commented after the match that he had spoken with both players but declined to state whether he believed one account over the other. Mourinho noted that Benfica legend Eusébio, one of the greatest players in club history, was also Black, while questioning why Vinícius is frequently targeted.
Anti-discrimination organization Kick It Out criticized Mourinho’s remarks, saying that when a player reports discrimination, the priority should be listening and offering support rather than focusing on contextual factors such as goal celebrations or club history.
Online videos circulated Wednesday appearing to show a small number of Benfica fans making monkey gestures from the stands, though it remains unclear whether those incidents are part of UEFA’s investigation.
The outcome of UEFA’s inquiry could carry significant consequences for Prestianni and Benfica, as well as broader implications for ongoing efforts to address racism in European soccer. The case adds to a growing list of incidents involving Vinícius, whose performances on the field have been accompanied by repeated confrontations over discriminatory abuse.
As UEFA gathers evidence, the spotlight once again falls on football’s struggle to eliminate racism from the game — and on how governing bodies respond when allegations arise on its biggest stages.
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