Benfica Defends Prestianni Amid Racism Allegations

omidbasir- Gianluca Prestianni has represented Argentina at the international level, earning one cap for the national team.

In a recent incident, Benfica has issued a statement claiming a “defamation campaign” is underway against Prestianni after UEFA initiated an investigation into allegations that he racially abused Real Madrid winger Vinicius Jr.

The Champions League match on Tuesday was interrupted for ten minutes when Vinicius reported the alleged racial abuse to referee Francois Letexier, prompting him and his teammates to leave the field.

Vinicius, who has faced multiple instances of racial abuse throughout his career, later expressed his thoughts on Instagram, stating, “Racists are, above all, cowards.”

Prestianni, who may face at least a 10-match ban from European competitions if found guilty, has firmly denied the allegations against him.

In response, Benfica defended Prestianni through a post on their official X account, which included a video of the incident. They argued that, due to the distance, Real Madrid players could not have heard what they claimed to have heard. The club further asserted their “full support” for Prestianni, emphasizing that his conduct has always been guided by respect for opponents and the principles that define Benfica’s identity.

Benfica expressed regret over the “defamation campaign” directed at Prestianni.

Benfica manager Jose Mourinho, in his post-match comments, noted that he had received conflicting accounts from Vinicius and Prestianni regarding the incident. Mourinho, who managed Real Madrid for 178 games from 2010 to 2013, remarked that Vinicius had been disrespectful in his goal celebration and highlighted the club’s legacy through their legendary striker Eusebio, asserting that Benfica is not a racist club.

The club emphasized its unwavering commitment to the values of equality, respect, and inclusion, which have been foundational to its identity and are embodied by Eusebio.

However, Mourinho’s and Benfica’s statements have drawn criticism from various quarters, including the anti-discrimination charity Kick It Out. Chair Sanjay Bhandari stated that both the club and manager had “failed” in their response. He pointed out that while it is natural to want to believe one’s player, the reality is that only two people were present during the incident and could have heard what was said.

Bhandari suggested that a more appropriate response from a club of Benfica’s stature would be to cooperate fully with the ongoing investigation, citing that this reaction is common following discriminatory events.

FIFA President Gianni Infantino expressed his shock and sadness over the incident, commending Letexier for implementing the anti-racism protocol. He asserted that there is no place for racism in sports or society and called for all stakeholders to take action against those responsible.

“I will always continue to reiterate: No to racism, no to any form of discrimination!” Infantino concluded.