Benfica on Wednesday reaffirmed its full support for its Argentine winger, Gianluca Prestianni, and its belief in his version of events, following accusations of racism against Brazilian Vinicius Junior. The club condemned the smear campaign targeting the player.
The incident occurred at the Estádio da Luz during Tuesday’s match between Real Madrid and Benfica, which ended in a 1-0 victory for the visitors, with Vinicius Junior scoring the winning goal.
At 51:26, after celebrating his goal, Vinicius informed French referee François Letixser that Prestini had directed racist insults at him. This triggered UEFA’s anti-racism protocol, resulting in an eight-minute stoppage of the match.
Prestianni was subsequently accused of insulting Vinicius by calling him a monkey. The Argentine player denied this in an official statement, and now Benfica insists that the 20-year-old’s account is true.
In a statement published on its official website, the club affirmed that Prestianni has always shown great respect for its rivals, institutions, and the fundamental principles of Benfica, expressing its regret over the smear campaign targeting him.
The Lisbon-based club confirmed that it will deal with the proceedings announced by UEFA with cooperation, transparency, and clarity, reiterating its commitment to equality, respect, and inclusion—values that are central to Benfica’s identity and of which Eusébio is the most prominent symbol.
