Gianluca Prestianni has stepped forward to address the controversy surrounding his alleged remarks to Vinicius Jr that ignited a heated confrontation during Tuesday night’s Champions League match.
The clash between Prestianni’s Benfica and Vinicius’s Madrid took an unexpected turn when play was halted for a tense 10 minutes. The interruption occurred after the Brazilian player accused Prestianni of racial abuse, just moments following his goal that gave the visitors a lead in Lisbon.
Video evidence captured a tense interaction where Vinicius and Prestianni approached each other, with the Argentine briefly covering his mouth with his shirt. Shortly thereafter, Vinicius hurried over to referee Francois Letexier to report the alleged racial slur.
In a statement released at 2 a.m. on Wednesday, Benfica argued that none of Real Madrid’s players were in a position to hear what Prestianni had said. Meanwhile, Benfica’s manager, Jose Mourinho, suggested that Vinicius had provoked the situation with his enthusiastic goal celebration.
Prestianni has since shared his perspective on the incident. On Instagram, the 20-year-old stated, “I want to clarify that at no time did I direct racist insults toward player Vinícius Junior, who unfortunately misunderstood what he thought he heard.”
Gianluca Prestianni has given his version of events after being accused of racism
Benfica’s clash with Madrid descended into chaos shortly after Vinicius Jr scored game’s only goal. The Brazilian claims he was labelled a ‘monkey’ by Prestianni
He further expressed, “I have never been racist to anyone and I regret the threats I received from Real Madrid players.”
Madrid star Aurelien Tchouameni told the media that the Benfica star claimed he did not aim a racist slur at Vinicius, but made a homophobic remark instead.
Later, on X, Prestianni questioned what he felt was a subdued initial reaction from Vinicius’s team-mates, given the gravity of the accusation levelled against him. He also explained why he raised his shirt over his mouth.
‘If they keep saying that SUPPOSEDLY I made a racist comment to Vinicius Junior, then why didn’t any of them react?’ he asked. ‘Accusing someone of something serious isn’t right, and even less so when it’s not true.
‘And everyone pointing fingers at me for covering up with my shirt when they know that all soccer players cover their mouths to talk. Don’t try to make up more.’
UEFA are expected to launch an investigation into the incident.
A UEFA spokesman said: ‘The official reports from the matches played last night are currently being reviewed. Where matters are reported, proceedings are opened and, should they lead to disciplinary sanctions being imposed, they are announced on the UEFA disciplinary website.
‘We have no further information to provide you or any further comment to make on this matter at this stage.’
Benfica have defended their player, and cast doubt over Vinicius’ version of events
Jose Mourinho has courted criticism for claiming Vinicius ‘incited’ the unsavoury scenes
Madrid star Trent Alexander-Arnold said the scenes were ‘disgusting’ post-match. while Mourinho claimed Vinicius had incited his players by celebrating and that the Brazilian ‘was not just happy to score that astonishing goal’.
‘It should be the crazy moment of the game, an amazing goal in a good game… these talents are able to do these beautiful things but unfortunately he [Vinicius] was not just happy to score that astonishing goal and then the game was over. When you score a goal like that you celebrate in a respectful way.’
When asked if Vinicius had ‘incited’ Benfica’s players and fans with his exuberant celebration, Mourinho said: ‘Yeah, I believe so. The words they exchange, Prestianni with Vinicius, I want to be independent. I don’t comment about it.’
Mourinho was seen speaking with Vinicius and Mbappe during the lengthy pause in play, and revealed what he had told the Brazilian.
‘I told him that when you score a goal like that you just celebrate and walk back,’ he added. ‘And then, when he was arguing about racism, I told him the biggest person in the history of this club was black. This club, the last thing it is is racist, so if in his mind it was something in relation to that, this is Benfica.
‘There is something wrong because it happens in every stadium. Every stadium that Vinicius plays [in] something happens. Always.
‘I’m saying that it was a good 50 minutes of football, millions of people watching around the world, a crazy goal absolutely crazy goal and then game over.’
His comments left Amazon Prime pundits Wayne Rooney, Clarence Seedorf and Theo Walcott stunned, with Seedorf saying the Portuguese had made a ‘big mistake’.
‘I think he [Jose Mourinho] is still emotional,’ said Seedorf. ‘I think he made a big mistake today to justify racial abuse and I’m not saying that was the case today but he mentioned something more than today.
‘He said wherever he goes these things happen, so he’s saying it’s okay when Vinicius provokes you, that it is okay to be racist and I think that is very wrong.’
Jamie Carragher and Micah Richards, covering the game for US broadcaster CBS Sports, highlighted Mourinho’s hypocrisy.
‘Anyone can celebrate how they like, and you shouldn’t get racially abused no matter what. It feels a little bit rich coming from Mourinho,’ Carragher said.
‘This is a guy who celebrates and antagonises the opposition probably more than any coach has ever done in the past. Remember running down the touchline at Old Trafford.
‘I remember a cup final against Liverpool when Chelsea scored very late telling all the Liverpool supporters to shut up… so it’s a bit rich coming from him to have a pop at Vinicius Jr for his celebration. A big goal in the Champions League, he is entitled to celebrate how he likes.’
Richards said: ‘I’m disappointed with the whole thing. Mourinho is somebody I love as a coach… I expect better from him because he is a powerful person within the sport, a lot of people listen to what he says and Jamie is right, hypocrisy from him when he celebrates how he wants. I just feel a little bit let down.’
