Benfica Star to Allege Height-Based Insult in Racism Defence
Gianluca Prestianni, the Benfica midfielder, is set to claim that he directed a homophobic slur at Real Madrid's Vinicius Junior only after the Brazilian star called him a dwarf or midget during a heated altercation. This defence emerges as UEFA investigates allegations of racial abuse in last Tuesday's Champions League play-off first leg, which Real Madrid won 1-0.
Incident Sparks UEFA Investigation and Provisional Suspension
Vinicius Jr alleged he was racially abused by Prestianni during the match, leading him to leave the field for ten minutes after reporting the incident to the referee. In response, UEFA has provisionally suspended Prestianni pending their inquiry. If found guilty, the Benfica player could face a severe ten-game ban, as both Vinicius Jr and his teammate Kylian Mbappe have claimed that Prestianni used monkey-related slurs.
According to reports from The Times, Prestianni is poised to argue that he used the homophobic term "maricon" instead, in retaliation for Vinicius Jr's comments about his height. The 5ft 5in midfielder asserts that this exchange occurred before the Real Madrid attacker became visibly distressed and approached the match official.
Defence Unlikely to Mitigate Punishment Under UEFA Rules
However, Prestianni's claims are not expected to aid his defence significantly. Both racial abuse and homophobic language constitute breaches of Article 14 of UEFA's disciplinary regulations, offences that carry lengthy bans. Notably, taunts regarding a player's physical appearance, such as height-based insults, are not covered by these rules, potentially leaving Prestianni vulnerable to sanctions regardless of the context.
During the altercation, Prestianni was seen covering his mouth with his shirt, a move that Mbappe later criticised. The French star alleged immediately after the match that he heard Prestianni call Vinicius Jr a monkey up to five times, stating, "I called him racist because I think he is. He tried to hide behind his shirt, but his face doesn’t lie. A young player cannot have the freedom to say things like this on a football field."
Benfica President Defends Player Amidst Controversy
As a result of the provisional suspension, Prestianni is unable to feature in Wednesday night's crucial second leg, where both teams vie for a place in the Champions League Round of 16. Despite this, he has travelled to Spain with Benfica, and the club's president, Rui Costa, continues to insist that Prestianni is not a racist.
Costa said on Tuesday, "Nothing is proven and the player's absence from this game is not justified. Prestianni is being labeled a racist, but he's anything but racist. I can guarantee that." This statement underscores the ongoing tension as UEFA's investigation progresses, with the outcome likely to have significant repercussions for both players and the broader fight against discrimination in football.
