The Digest:
Benfica's Gianluca Prestianni has issued a strong denial of allegations that he racially abused Real Madrid's Vinicius Jr during Tuesday's Champions League playoff, claiming the Brazilian "regrettably misunderstood what he thought he heard." In a statement shared by football journalist Fabrizio Romano, Prestianni declared: "I want to clarify that at no time did I direct racist insults to Vini Jr." He also emphasised his stance against racism, stating: "I was never racist with anyone and I regret the threats I received from Real Madrid players." The incident caused a 10-minute halt in the game after Vinicius reported abuse to the referee, activating FIFA's anti-racism protocol. Prestianni's denial directly contradicts Vinicius's account and accusations from Real Madrid players, including Kylian Mbappe who claimed he heard the abuse.
Key Points:
- Prestianni's denial sets up a direct credibility clash with Vinicius and Real Madrid players.
- It complicates UEFA's investigation, which must determine whose account is credible.
- Vinicius's accusation faces challenge, while Prestianni claims victimisation from threats.
- This signals the difficulty of proving racist abuse without clear audio evidence.
- The timing, with Mbappe calling for lifetime ban, escalates stakes.
Sources: Leadership, Fabrizio Romano, Prestianni Statement
