MADRID (AP) 鈥� Benfica player Gianluca Prestianni has denied racially insulting Real Madrid forward during a Champions League match when he covered his mouth with his jersey.
鈥淚 have never been racist with anyone and I regret the threats that I received from Real Madrid players,鈥� the 20-year-old Argentina forward, who faces a potential 10-match ban if found guilty of racial abuse in UEFA鈥檚 disciplinary code, said on X. The European soccer governing body said Wednesday it has appointed a special investigator to gather evidence.
Benfica said Prestianni was the victim of a 鈥渄efamation campaign.鈥�
The playoff game at Benfica鈥檚 Stadium of Light was halted for nearly 10 minutes on Tuesday after the referee initiated the anti-racism protocol, which is the standard procedure when a player alleges being abused. Cameras picked up Vin铆cius telling French referee Fran莽ois Letexier that Prestianni called him a 鈥渕onkey.鈥�
FIFA President Gianni Infantino said he was 鈥渟hocked and saddened to see the incident of alleged racism鈥� and praised the referee for activating the anti-racism protocol.
鈥淭here is absolutely no room for racism in our sport and in society,鈥� Infantino said on X. 鈥淲e need all the relevant stakeholders to take action and hold those responsible to account.鈥�
Benfica for Prestianni on Wednesday, with the Portuguese club claiming that Madrid players who said they heard the insult were too far away.
Benfica later released a statement saying it welcomed UEFA’s investigation and that it 鈥渇ully supports and believes the version presented鈥� by Prestianni, “whose conduct while with the club has always been guided by respect鈥� toward everyone.
Benfica fans had reacted angrily to Vin铆cius celebrating his 50th-minute goal by dancing by the corner flag, throwing bottles and other objects toward the Madrid players. Prestianni then confronted Vin铆cius and said something while covering his mouth with his jersey.
Madrid, which won 1-0, hosts the second leg on Feb. 25 with the overall winner advancing to the round of 16 in European club soccer’s top competition.
鈥楻acists are cowards鈥�
After the match, Vin铆cius posted a photo on Instagram of him celebrating by the Benfica corner flag. He wrote: 鈥淩acists are, above all, cowards. They need to cover their mouths with their shirts to show how they are weak. … Nothing that happened today is new to me in my life and in my family鈥檚 life. I was shown a yellow card for celebrating a goal. I still don鈥檛 know why.鈥�
Madrid players said they considered leaving the field but eventually decided to continue playing.
Vin铆cius covered his mouth with his hands several times, as many players do, while talking to teammates and opponents.
Benfica posted a video on X.
鈥淎s the images show, given the distance, the Real Madrid players couldn’t have heard what they have been saying that they heard,鈥� Benfica said.
Benfica had already posted along with the words: 鈥淭ogether, by your side.鈥�
Prestianni defends himself
Prestianni insisted that Vin铆cius misunderstood what was said, while Benfica players after the match reportedly said the Argentine provoked the Brazil forward but never racially insulted him.
鈥淚 want to clarify that at no time did I direct racist insults at the player Vin铆cius J煤nior, who unfortunately misinterpreted what he thought he had heard,鈥� Prestianni said.
He did not say why he covered his mouth.
The referee appeared to show that he did not hear anything and gestured that Prestianni had the shirt over his mouth. Vin铆cius, who is Black and has been repeatedly subjected to racist abuse in Spain, went to the sideline and sat in the dugout while play was stopped.
Prestianni was not shown a yellow card and continued playing. He was substituted in the 81st and was applauded by Benfica fans.
Kylian Mbapp茅 was among the Madrid players who strongly defended Vin铆cius and : “Dance, Vini, and please never stop. They will never tell us what we have to do or not.”
The France great also said Prestianni should never play in the Champions League again.
Some online videos on Wednesday appeared to show a few Benfica fans doing monkey gestures from the stands.
Kick It Out criticizes Mourinho’s remarks
Benfica coach Jos茅 Mourinho criticized Vin铆cius for celebrating by the Benfica flag. He spoke with both players and said he did not want to say he believed one over the other.
Mourinho said he told Vin铆cius that the greatest player in Benfica鈥檚 history 鈥� Eus茅bio 鈥� was also Black, but seemed to question why the Madrid player was so frequently targeted by racist abuse.
Anti-discrimination group criticized Mourinho’s remarks.
鈥淲hen anyone reports discrimination in football, or anywhere, the first priority is that they are listened to and feel supported,” it said.
鈥淔ocusing on Vinicius Jr.鈥檚 goal celebration or the history of the club, instead of acknowledging the report, is a form of gaslighting.
鈥淭his approach not only harms the individual affected but also sends the wrong message to others around the world who may have experienced similar situations.”
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