Benfica footballer Gianluca Prestiani denied today that he racially abused Real Madrid player Vinicius Junior during a Champions League match.
"I want to clarify that at no time did I direct racist insults at Vinicius Junior, who unfortunately misunderstood what he thought he heard. I have never been racist towards anyone and I regret the threats I received from Real Madrid players," the Argentine wrote on social media.
In a post on its X network account, Benfica came to the defense of its player.
"As the recordings show, given the distance, the Real Madrid players could not have heard what they claim to have heard," Benfica said.
Benfica lost 1-0 to Real Madrid at home last night, in the first leg of the Champions League round of 16 play-offs, with Vinicius Junior scoring the only goal in the 50th minute.
Vinicius celebrated the goal by dancing at the corner flag in front of the Benfica fans, which they did not like, after which fierce shouts and whistles from the stands began.
Vinicius received a yellow card for celebrating a goal, and then complained to referee Francois Letexieu that Benfica player Gianluca Prestiani had allegedly racially abused him, causing the match to be abandoned.
The Brazilian footballer sat on the bench and did not want to continue the game, and after a 10-minute break, the match at the "Stadium of Light" resumed.
Benfica coach Jose Mourinho was sent off in the 85th minute for protesting, after asking the referee to show Vinicius a second yellow card for a foul.
The second leg between Real and Benfica is scheduled for next Wednesday at the Santiago Bernabeu Stadium.
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