aHours after the end of the match between Real Madrid and Benfica, a stunning goal from Vincius Junior gave Real Madrid a decisive 1-0 away victory. Gianluca Prestiani has finally broken his silence regarding the alleged racist insult towards Vincius Jr.
Gianluca Prestiani responds to accusations of racism
Prestiani’s message
The 20-year-old Argentine footballer has sought to clarify the situation after he took to his Instagram account to post a photo of himself alongside Vincius Jr., which came under heavy criticism for insulting the Brazilian star.
“I want to be clear: I never directly directed any racist insults at Vincius Jr. He unfortunately misunderstood what he thought he heard. I was never racist towards anyone and I regret the threats I received from Real Madrid players,” he wrote on Instagram.
UEFA anti-racism protocol activated
After Vincius Junior’s goal in the 49th minute, followed by the characteristic celebratory dance, the Brazilian forward reported to referee Franois Letexier that he had been subjected to a racist insult by Gianluca Prestiani. This prompted the activation of UEFA’s anti-racism protocols.
The match was interrupted for about 10 minutes, and a heated discussion ensued, but the match was eventually restarted. Opinion remains divided, with several Benfica officials defending the player, including manager Jos Mourinho. All eyes are on UEFA to see if any sanctions will be imposed.
