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A Champions League match between Benfica and Real Madrid was temporarily halted Tuesday evening after Real Madrid player Vinícius Júnior alleged he was subjected to racist abuse from Benfica’s Gianluca Prestianni.
The incident occurred during the first half of the match, which Real Madrid won 1-0. Vinícius Júnior reportedly told the referee that Prestianni had called him a “monkey,” a racial slur. Play was stopped for approximately ten minutes as players and officials discussed the allegation.
Prestianni responded to the accusation via social media, stating, “I want to clarify that at no time did I insult Vinícius Jr. In a racist manner. Unfortunately, he misinterpreted something he thought he heard.” He added, “I have never been racist towards anyone and I regret the threats I have received from Real Madrid players.”
Benfica publicly expressed support for Prestianni, posting a message on social media that read, “Together, by your side,” alongside a picture of the player. The club has not released a further statement addressing the specifics of Vinícius Júnior’s allegation.
According to reports, Kylian Mbappé has stated that Prestianni used the racial slur five times during the match. This claim has not been independently verified.
The incident is the latest in a series of accusations of racial abuse directed at Vinícius Júnior, who has previously been targeted by fans in Spain and Italy. The Spanish league has taken steps to address racism in its stadiums, but the issue remains a persistent problem.
As of Wednesday morning, UEFA has not issued a statement regarding the incident or any potential disciplinary action. The governing body of European football is expected to investigate the matter further.
