Benfica Midfielder Gianluca Prestianni Alleges Height Taunts from Vinicius Jr in Racism Defense
Benfica midfielder Gianluca Prestianni, who faces accusations of racially abusing Real Madrid winger Vinicius Jr during a Champions League clash, is reportedly claiming that Vinicius referred to him as a dwarf or midget. This defense emerges as Prestianni denies using racist language in the incident that occurred last week.
UEFA Provisional Ban and Match Details
Prestianni has been handed a provisional one-match ban by UEFA, which will see him miss the second leg of the play-off tie on Wednesday. The controversy erupted after Vinicius scored a winning goal in the 50th minute of the first leg in Lisbon, leading to ugly scenes on the pitch.
According to initial reports, Prestianni is alleged to have directed the Spanish word 'mono', meaning 'monkey', at Vinicius following the Brazilian's mocking celebration in front of Benfica supporters. However, the 20-year-old Argentine star has firmly denied these allegations.
Prestianni's Defense: Retaliation for Height Taunts
Standing at 5 feet 5 inches, Prestianni is among the shortest players in the Champions League. His main defense, as reported by The Times, is that he acted in retaliation after Vinicius referred to him as a dwarf. Prestianni claims he used the homophobic slur 'maricon', Spanish for a derogatory term, in response to being taunted about his height, not racist language.
Insiders have indicated that this defense is unlikely to be accepted as an excuse for using racist or discriminatory language. Both racist and homophobic abuse are breaches of Article 14 of UEFA's disciplinary rules, meaning Prestianni could face a lengthy ban regardless of whether his claims are believed.
Incident and Allegations During the Match
Vinicius Jr made the accusation of racist abuse to the referee after Prestianni was seen covering his mouth with his shirt while speaking to the Brazilian. The match was subsequently delayed by 10 minutes following the allegation. Additionally, Kylian Mbappe claimed he heard Prestianni use the racist insult five times and insisted after the match that the footballer should never be allowed to compete in the Champions League again.
It is important to note that taunts about a player's physical appearance, such as height, weight, or baldness, are not covered by UEFA's regulations, which focus on discriminatory language based on race, ethnicity, or sexual orientation.
Benfica's Stance and Club Support
Benfica have stood firm in their defense of Prestianni, releasing a statement expressing their 'regret' over UEFA's decision to impose a provisional one-match suspension while the governing body conducts a full investigation. The Portuguese club has also expressed their intention to appeal the decision, hoping it will be overturned in time for the second leg in Madrid on Wednesday.
Club president Rui Costa reinforced this position on Tuesday, calling the ban unjustified. 'Nothing is proven, and the player's absence from this game is not justified,' Costa said. 'Prestianni is being labeled a racist, but he's anything but racist. I can guarantee that.'
UEFA's Concerns and Potential Consequences
UEFA is believed to have implemented the ban due to concerns that a handshake might not take place between Prestianni and the Real Madrid players, echoing a similar incident involving Luis Suarez and Patrice Evra in 2012. Should Prestianni be found guilty of racially abusing Vinicius, he could receive a ban of up to 10 matches, highlighting the serious nature of the allegations.
As the investigation continues, this case underscores the ongoing challenges in addressing discrimination in football and the complexities involved in distinguishing between different forms of abusive language on the pitch.
