Prestianni Denies Racist Insults to Vinícius Jr. As UEFA Investigates
The Champions League match between Benfica and Real Madrid on Tuesday, February 17, 2026, was marred by allegations of racist abuse directed at Real Madrid’s Vinícius Júnior. Benfica player Gianluca Prestianni has denied the accusations, whereas UEFA has launched a formal investigation into the incident.
Incident During Champions League Play-Off
The match was temporarily halted for 10 minutes when Vinícius Júnior reported alleged abuse from Prestianni following his goal. Vinícius, who has previously been a target of racism, indicated to referee François Letexier that he believed he had been racially abused. He subsequently left the field at the referee’s request.
Benfica’s Response and Allegations of Defamation
Benfica has strongly defended Prestianni, alleging a “defamation campaign” against their player. The club has rallied behind Prestianni, and manager José Mourinho faced criticism for suggesting Vinícius may have incited the crowd with his celebration after scoring. Yahoo Sports reports that Prestianni covered his mouth during the exchange with Vinícius, but the Real Madrid player’s reaction suggested he believed he had been abused.
Prestianni’s Denial and Potential Sanctions
Prestianni has continued to deny any racist abuse. Still, he could face a minimum 10-match ban from European competition if UEFA finds him guilty of discriminatory behavior. Pagina 12 reports that UEFA is currently analyzing the situation.
Broader Context of Racism in Football
This incident occurs within a broader context of racist attacks against Vinícius Júnior. The Americano Newspaper notes that five previous incidents of racist insults directed at the Real Madrid player have resulted in convictions for the aggressors in Spain. A similar case in the Spanish League in 2021, involving Valencia’s Mouctar Diakhaby and Cádiz player Juan Cala, was dismissed due to a lack of substantiating evidence.
Mourinho Accused of Gaslighting
José Mourinho’s response to Vinícius Júnior’s allegations has drawn criticism, with anti-discrimination charity Kick It Out accusing him of gaslighting. The Guardian reports on this controversy.
The UEFA investigation is ongoing, and the outcome will likely set a precedent for handling similar incidents in the future.
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