The controversy stems from an incident during the Champions League play-off first leg between Benfica and Real Madrid in Lisbon on 17/2. Following Vinicius' decisive goal in the 50th minute, which he provocatively celebrated in front of the home crowd, the two players exchanged words.

Vinicius subsequently reported racist behavior to the referee, claiming Prestianni uttered offensive words while covering his mouth with his shirt. Referee Francois Letexier immediately crossed his arms, a signal for activating the anti-racism protocol, which halted the match for about 10 minutes.

According to English media, Prestianni, who is 1,65 m tall, asserts he did not use the word "mono" (meaning "monkey" in Spanish) as alleged. Instead, the Argentine midfielder admitted to using an offensive term related to sexual orientation after Vinicius mocked his height and called him a "dwarf".

Gianluca Prestianni (in red) confronts Vinicius during Benfica's 0-1 loss to Real in the Champions League play-off first leg on 17/2. Photo: Socrates

Forward Kylian Mbappe stated he heard Prestianni repeatedly utter discriminatory remarks, suggesting the Benfica player should not continue playing in the Champions League if found guilty of misconduct. Benfica retaliated by posting a video purporting to show that Real players could not have heard the alleged racist remarks directed at Vinicius.

UEFA issued a temporary one-match ban to Prestianni under Article 14 of its disciplinary regulations, which pertains to racist and discriminatory behavior. However, mocking physical appearance such as height or weight is not covered by this article.

Benfica's management protested the decision, citing a lack of conclusive evidence. President Rui Costa declared his player "is not a racist" and confirmed the club would appeal so Prestianni could participate in the second leg in Madrid.

According to English newspaper Sportmail, UEFA is concerned about the possibility of the two teams refusing to shake hands before the match, similar to the 2012 incident when Luis Suarez declined to shake Patrice Evra's hand during a match between Liverpool and Man Utd. If found guilty of racist behavior, Prestianni could face a ban of up to 10 matches, similar to the disciplinary action Ondrej Kudela received in 2021 following allegations of insulting midfielder Glen Kamara.

Gianluca Prestianni during Benfica's training session at the Bernabeu on 24/2. Photo: Benfica

Ahead of the second leg at the Bernabeu, Benfica made it clear they would not comment further on the incident. Before the press conference on 24/2, the Portuguese club's head of communications announced that no questions related to Prestianni would be answered.

Midfielder Fredrik Aursnes declined to comment directly on his teammate. "I have no opinion on this matter," the Norwegian player said, but emphasized, "Generally speaking, there is no place for racism anywhere. If someone treats another person differently, that is unacceptable." Aursnes stated the entire team remains focused on the match and asserted he has no personal conflicts with Real players.

Meanwhile, assistant coach Joao Tralhao, who attended the press conference in place of Jose Mourinho due to his suspension, did not directly address Prestianni but implied that Benfica felt unfairly treated. "Some players will still play tomorrow who perhaps should not," he said. "We hope the referee will maintain consistency and respect both clubs."

After UEFA announced the one-match ban, Benfica filed an appeal and still allowed Prestianni to travel with the squad to Madrid. It remains unclear whether the 20-year-old player will be registered for the match or watch from the stands. However, Prestianni's presence in Madrid could pose security concerns.

Hong Duy (according to Daily Mail, Marca)