Benfica winger Gianluca Prestianni criticizes UEFA
Benfica winger Gianluca Prestianni launched a furious attack on UEFA via social media this afternoon after the governing body dismissed the Portuguese club’s appeal against his provisional suspension, reports BritPanorama.
The 20-year-old Argentine, who will miss tonight’s Champions League knockout phase play-off second leg against Real Madrid, posted on X: “Punching someone off the ball is allowed, it’s seen, and there’s no sanction. Punishing without proof is allowed, it’s seen. They don’t even try to hide it with Real anymore. They’re shameful.” The post was later deleted, according to Portuguese outlet Record.
The provisional ban arises from accusations made by Real Madrid forward Vinicius Jr, who alleged that Prestianni directed racist abuse at him shortly after scoring in last week’s first leg match in Lisbon. Prestianni has firmly denied the accusations.
UEFA confirmed on Wednesday that Benfica’s challenge against the suspension had failed. “Mr. Gianluca Prestianni remains provisionally suspended for the next UEFA club competition match for which he would otherwise be eligible,” the governing body stated. If the suspension is upheld after a full investigation by an ethics and disciplinary inspector, Prestianni could face a minimum ten-match ban.
Benfica president Rui Costa mounted a strong defence of the young winger this week, stating, “Prestianni is anything but racist.” He noted, “I’m not on the pitch to know what was said or not said, but as you can imagine, in a situation like that, a lot is said. We believe in our player’s word because we know the players we have at home.” Costa expressed concern over what he described as a “crucifying” portrayal of Prestianni.
Real Madrid head coach Álvaro Arbeloa, during a pre-match press conference, called on UEFA to take decisive action in the fight against discrimination, emphasizing the current moment as an opportunity to make real progress. “UEFA has always been a strong advocate in the fight against racism, and now they have the opportunity not to leave it as just a slogan or a nice banner before matches,” he stated. Arbeloa acknowledged Vinicius Jr.’s strength and resilience, hailing him as a “fighter” in the face of adversity.
The escalating discourse surrounding this incident underscores the ongoing challenges within football concerning racism and the governance of player conduct. It distinctively highlights how contentious interactions can define narratives and influence the broader implications within the sport.
