The Portuguese club released images of the clash with the Brazilian and stated that, due to his position, it is impossible that he could have heard the alleged insult from the Argentine
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The controversy between Gianluca Prestianni and Vinícius Júnior in the Champions League play-off clash between Benfica and Real Madrid keeps adding new chapters. In the early hours of the European morning, the Portuguese club published a video on its official channels with the aim of backing the Argentine footballer, who was accused by the Brazilian of having directed a supposed racist insult at him during the match.
The footage shows the exact moment of the exchange. In the images, viewers can see Prestianni covering his mouth with his jersey while he speaks to Vinícius, who immediately goes to French referee François Letexier to activate the protocol and report the alleged offense.
Alongside the video, Benfica wrote a forceful message: "As the images show, given the distance, Real Madrid players couldn't have heard what they claim to have heard". The institution keeps that, at the moment of the incident, several players from the Spanish side were several meters away, some even across the halfway line or celebrating a play, which would cast doubt on whether they actually perceived what was said.
Everything began after Vinícius's statements, in which he asserted that the former Vélez player called him "monkey". In the post-match, Kylian Mbappé was categorical in stating that he heard the insult "up to five times", while other teammates backed the Brazilian's version. However, the video published by the Lisbon club attempts to refute that claim by showing that, at that moment, the only player who reacts immediately is Vinícius himself.
Before the release of the footage, Prestianni had already presented his defense on social media: "I want to clarify that at no time did I direct racist insults at the player Vinícius Júnior, who unfortunately misinterpreted what he believes he heard. I have never been racist toward anyone". In addition, the Argentine reported that he had received threats from Real Madrid players, while Benfica expressed its support for him with a message: "Together, by your side".
El mensaje de Prestianni y el apoyo del Bénfica
Meanwhile, the Brazilian Football Confederation publicly backed Viníciusand condemned any act of racism, highlighting his decision to report the incident on the field of play.
Now the case is in the hands of the disciplinary tribunal ofUEFA, which will begin a process of reviewing footage and taking statements to determine whether there is sufficient evidence to move forward with a formal investigation and eventually apply a sanction, which, according to the regulations, would be at least 10 matches of suspension. The ruling might not arrive before the second leg, scheduled for next week at Santiago Bernabéu.
