According to a report by The Athletic, Gianluca Prestianni, the Benfica player accused of racially abusing Vinícius Júnior, is expected to be available for the crucial Champions League round of 16 second leg this coming Wednesday. This development arrives despite the UEFA opening a formal investigation into the incident that marred the first leg at the Estádio da Luz.
The initial encounter, which saw Real Madrid secure a narrow 1-0 victory, was overshadowed by allegations from the Brazilian star. Following his match-winning goal in the 50th minute, Vinícius approached referee François Letexier, apparently indicating that Prestianni had directed insulting racial remarks towards him. In response, the match official initiated the first step of UEFA’s three-step protocol by making the crossed-arm ‘no to racism’ signal, leading to a temporary halt in play.
Contradicting the accusation, Prestianni took to Instagram to issue a denial, stating he “never directed racist insults at Vinícius,” and suggested a misunderstanding. However, adding significant weight to the claim, Kylian Mbappé publicly stated after the match that he heard Prestianni call Vinícius a “monkey five times.”
UEFA’s Investigation and Historical Precedent
European football’s governing body confirmed it has appointed a dedicated ethics and disciplinary inspector to gather evidence and hear from all relevant parties, acknowledging the sensitivity and high-profile nature of the case. Sources indicate, however, that a final decision is not imminent, with the investigation likely to extend over weeks rather than days. Consequently, any potential sanctions will be announced on UEFA’s official website only after its conclusion.
This situation finds a parallel in a 2021 Europa League incident involving Slavia Prague defender Ondřej Kúdela and Rangers midfielder Glen Kamara. Kúdela, who also denied wrongdoing, ultimately received a 10-match suspension, but the sanction was imposed a full month after the event. UEFA regulations mandate a minimum 10-game ban for racist behavior, accompanied by an educational program overseen by the player’s club.
For Vinícius Júnior, this latest episode adds to a distressing catalogue of racist abuse he has faced throughout his career. In May of last year, five fans received suspended prison sentences and fines for racist chants during a match against Real Valladolid. More recently, at the start of this month, club Albacete expressed feeling “pain and shame” after a banana was thrown onto the pitch in his direction during a Copa del Rey fixture.