Benfica Star Breaks Silence on Racism Allegation from Vinicius Jr
Argentine winger Gianluca Prestianni has firmly denied accusations of making racist remarks toward Real Madrid's Vinicius Junior during a tense UEFA Champions League encounter. The controversy erupted during Benfica's 1-0 home defeat to Real Madrid at Estadio da Luz on Tuesday, February 17, 2026, overshadowing the match's outcome.
Match Incident and Immediate Fallout
The match, part of the 2025/26 Champions League knockout stage, saw Vinicius Junior score a stunning 50th-minute goal, curling the ball into the top corner. His celebratory dance at the corner flag provoked reactions from some home fans and earned him a yellow card from referee Francois Letexier. However, the situation escalated when Vinicius appeared visibly upset after an exchange with Prestianni, who was seen speaking to him while covering his mouth with his shirt.
Vinicius immediately approached the referee to report the alleged incident, claiming he had been racially insulted. This led to a significant disruption, with the Brazilian winger briefly leaving the pitch and causing a 10-minute stoppage in play. Real Madrid later issued a statement confirming that Vinicius had informed match officials of the racial abuse by a fellow South American player.
Prestianni's Public Response and Benfica's Defense
In a detailed Instagram post, the 20-year-old Prestianni addressed the allegations directly. "I want to clarify that at no point did I direct racist insults at player Vinícius Júnior, who unfortunately misinterpreted what he believes he heard," he wrote. The young Argentine emphasized his commitment against racism, stating, "I have never been racist toward anyone, and I regret the threats I received from Real Madrid players."
Prestianni disabled comments on his post to prevent further backlash, though he did not specify the exact words exchanged with Vinicius. Prior to his statement, Benfica released footage from an alternative camera angle, arguing that no Real Madrid players were close enough to hear the conversation between Prestianni and Vinicius, potentially discrediting claims from others like France's Kylian Mbappe who had commented on the incident.
UEFA Investigation and Broader Context
The European football governing body, UEFA, is now investigating the accusation under its disciplinary regulations. Article 14 stipulates that anyone insulting human dignity on grounds such as race faces a minimum ten-match ban. The match eventually resumed after 12 minutes of added time, with Madrid securing a narrow victory. Further controversy arose when an object thrown from the crowd struck Vinicius on the arm, highlighting ongoing issues with fan behavior.
This incident adds to a series of racial abuse cases in football, including a recent report involving Bournemouth forward Antione Semenyo, who faced similar allegations from a Liverpool fan during an English Premier League match. As the sport grapples with these challenges, the outcome of UEFA's inquiry into the Prestianni-Vinicius case will be closely watched for its implications on player conduct and disciplinary measures.
