Gianluca Prestianni has denied allegations of racist abuse directed at Vinícius Júnior during the February 17, 2026 UEFA Champions League encounter between Real Madrid CF and S.L. Benfica, Softfootball reports.
Prestianni attributed the incident to a misunderstanding and expressed regret over what he described as threats made toward him by Madrid players during the heated exchange. His statement was confirmed by football transfer expert Fabrizio Romano via his Official X handle.
BREAKING: Gianluca Prestianni statement after Vini Jr case. “I want to clarify that at no time did I direct racist insults to Vini Jr, who regrettably misunderstood what he thought he heard”. “I was never racist with anyone and I regret the threats I received from Real Madrid players”.
The controversy erupted after Vinícius scored and celebrated, claiming Prestianni repeatedly called him “monkey” while covering his mouth with his shirt. The accusation sparked immediate outrage among Madrid players, who confronted the Benfica youngster, leading to a temporary halt in play as officials followed anti-racism protocol.
Referencing his earlier statement, Vinícius described racists as “cowards who need to put their shirts in their mouths to show how weak they are.” He also voiced frustration at receiving a yellow card for celebrating, insisting he still does not understand the decision and believes the protocol was poorly executed.
Despite the controversy, Benfica, under José Mourinho, impressed with their intensity and competitiveness throughout the tense first half. Benfica matched Real Madrid CF in intensity and made it difficult for them to settle