Rui Costa Defends Prestianni Amid Racism Allegation
Benfica President, Rui Costa has publicly come to the defense of Gianluca Prestianni after the young Benfica winger was accused of racially abusing Vinícius Júnior during last week’s UEFA Champions League playoff encounter against Real Madrid.
The alleged incident occurred when the Spanish giants traveled to Lisbon for the first leg of the playoff tie. Reports surfaced during the match claiming that Prestianni directed racial remarks at Vinícius Jr, sparking widespread backlash on social media and prompting immediate scrutiny from European football authorities.
Speaking on the matter, the Benfica president firmly backed his player, insisting that the accusations do not reflect the character of the Argentine.
“Prestianni is being called a racist, but he is anything but racist. I can guarantee,” Rui Costa stated.
He further emphasized his trust in the player and the club’s internal knowledge of his character.
“I cannot know what was said or not said. What we believe is in the word of Prestianni; more than that, it is knowing the players we have at home,” he added.
Meanwhile, UEFA has provisionally suspended Prestianni pending further investigation. The temporary ban rules him out of the decisive second leg at the Santiago Bernabéu on Wednesday, dealing a blow to Benfica’s preparations for the return fixture in which they trail by a alone goal.
UEFA confirmed that investigations into the alleged comments are ongoing, with no final decision yet reached. Until a conclusion is drawn, the matter remains under review.
The controversy adds further tension to what was already a high-stakes European tie, as both clubs await clarity on the outcome of the disciplinary proceedings.