Benfica winger Gianluca Prestianni has denied racially insulting Real Madrid star Vinícius Júnior during a Champions League match on Tuesday, Feb. 17.
Vinícius scored the game’s only goal in the 50th minute, but the match was marred by a confrontation between the Brazilian and Prestianni just five minutes later.
Prestianni covered his mouth with his jersey when approaching the 25-year-old, with nearby Real Madrid players signaling that the Argentine had made a racial insult.
Television footage appeared to show Vinícius telling referee François Letexier that Prestianni called him a “monkey.” Letexier halted the match for 11 minutes under FIFA’s anti-racism protocol, with Madrid clinching a 1-0 win after it resumed.
After the game, Vinícius wrote on Instagram: “Racists are, above all, cowards. They need to cover their mouths with their shirts to show how they are weak.’
But in a statement released on social media, Prestianni denied that he had racially abused Vinícius.
“I want to clarify that at no point did I direct racist insults at the player Vinicius Júnior, who unfortunately misinterpreted what he thought he heard,’ the 20-year-old said. ‘I have never been racist towards anyone and I regret the threats I received from Real Madrid players.”
Benfica has strongly backed its player, posting Prestianni’s statement along with the words: “Together, by your side.”
The Portuguese club added in a statement that Prestianni had been the victim of a ‘defamation campaign.’
“As the images show, given the distance, the Real Madrid players couldn’t have heard what they have been saying that they heard,” Benfica added.
UEFA has announced that it will open an investigation into the incident.