LISBON, PORTUGAL – For a period in February and March 2026, Gianluca Prestianni found himself at the center of a firestorm. Accused of racially abusing Real Madrid’s Vinicius Júnior during the Champions League playoff first leg between Benfica and Real Madrid on February 17th, the Argentine forward has now broken his silence, offering his account of the events in a recent interview with Argentine television channel Mi Telefe. Prestianni maintains his innocence, claiming he was unfairly targeted and sanctioned.
“What hurt me the most was being accused of something I never did,” Prestianni explained. “That’s what affected me the most. Fortunately, I am very calm, because all the people who understand me know who I am, and that’s enough for me. I am very grateful to the club, who believed in me and supported me in everything. The club and my teammates showed me that internally, and that’s all that matters to me.”
UEFA Investigation Ongoing
The incident unfolded after Vinicius Júnior scored the only goal of the match, celebrating near the corner flag. He then approached referee François Letexier to report alleged racist language directed at him by Prestianni. The Benfica player was seen covering his mouth with his shirt while speaking to the referee, prompting an eight-minute stoppage in play as UEFA’s anti-racism protocol was activated. Real Madrid players, including Kylian Mbappé, expressed visible frustration, and were reportedly prepared to leave the pitch before play resumed.
Prestianni was subsequently handed a one-match suspension by UEFA, preventing him from participating in the second leg at the Santiago Bernabéu. The decision, made while the investigation was still ongoing, drew criticism from some quarters. The investigation centers on “allegations of discriminatory behavior,” and Prestianni has already provided evidence to UEFA officials.
According to reports from ESPN, Prestianni has stated that he used an anti-gay slur – “m——” in Spanish – rather than the racial slur “mono” (Spanish for monkey) as initially alleged. Aurélien Tchouaméni of Real Madrid reportedly confronted Prestianni after the match, receiving this explanation directly. Madrid has submitted a dossier of evidence to UEFA as part of the ongoing probe, and Kylian Mbappé publicly stated he heard Prestianni racially abuse Vinicius on multiple occasions.
The situation escalated quickly, drawing reactions from across the football world. Benfica, though, strongly defended Prestianni, with the club and his teammates publicly backing him.
“For Us Argentines, It’s Normal”
Prestianni addressed Kylian Mbappé’s on-field accusation of racism, stating, “For us Argentines, it’s a common insult in this sport. They call someone a racist when I have never been racist and never will be. It’s like they’re trying to destabilize you. I never wanted to react and I won’t react. Instead, the important thing is to demonstrate it on the field, by playing.”
He also expressed his pain at being sanctioned without what he considers to be concrete evidence. “It hurt me a lot, I was sanctioned without proof for something I didn’t say,” he said. “But that’s in the past. I am very grateful to the Benfica technical staff who waited for me until the last moment so I could play.”
Prestianni has since returned to action for Benfica under manager José Mourinho and was warmly received by the home fans in his first appearance back following the suspension. He has also earned a call-up to the Argentina national team, selected by Lionel Scaloni for the upcoming squad ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, scheduled to take place in North America from June 11th to July 19th.
The case highlights the ongoing challenges football faces in combating racism and discrimination. While Prestianni denies the specific charge of racial abuse, he did admit to using homophobic language, a separate offense that also falls under UEFA’s disciplinary regulations. Article 14 of UEFA’s disciplinary regulations outlines similar punishment frameworks for both racist and anti-gay abuse.
The outcome of UEFA’s investigation remains to be seen, but the incident has sparked a wider conversation about accountability, player conduct, and the role of governing bodies in addressing discrimination within the sport. The incident serves as a stark reminder of the require for continued vigilance and proactive measures to ensure a safe and inclusive environment for all participants in football.
Benfica’s next fixture is a Primeira Liga match against Sporting CP on April 8th. Prestianni’s continued involvement will be closely watched as the investigation continues and the club aims to secure their league title.
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