Gianluca Prestianni Denies Vinicius Racism, Calls Homophobic Insults 'Normal' in Argentina

Benfica's winger, Gianluca Prestianni, maintains his innocence regarding the racism accusation brought against him. Vinicius Junior alleged that Prestianni directed a racist insult, 'monkey,' during a Champions League match. UEFA subsequently imposed a temporary ban while the incident undergoes investigation.

Visuals of Prestianni's alleged abuse towards Vinicius circulated globally. However, the Argentine winger contends that his remarks were homophobic, not racist. Kylian Mbappe has corroborated Vinicius' account, stating he distinctly heard Prestianni's words.

Prestianni: "I Was Punished for Something I Didn't Say"

Speaking to Telefe in Argentina, Prestianni asserted his belief that the punishment was unjust.

"Fortunately, I remain very calm," Prestianni stated. "Everyone who knows me understands my character, and that's sufficient. I am also deeply thankful to the club for their unwavering belief and support. My teammates demonstrated their solidarity privately, which holds far greater significance to me than any public social media post."

"Missing the second leg was incredibly painful," he continued. "I faced punishment for words I didn't utter, sanctioned without concrete proof. However, that chapter is closed. My gratitude extends to the team and the Benfica coaching staff, who held out hope for my participation until the very last moment."

"I communicated with Mourinho, as well as my teammates, to assure them that the circulating rumors were unfounded and to dispel any potential confusion among them."

Notably, UEFA's regulations allow for similar penalties for homophobic abuse. Mourinho himself drew significant criticism for seemingly blaming Vinicius in connection with the alleged racial incident.

Prestianni: Homophobic Insults are "Normal" in Argentina

Prestianni now faces accusations of homophobia, yet he asserts that such language is considered acceptable in Argentina, hence he perceived no issue with using the insult.

"I've played alongside teammates with the same skin color as Vinicius, and there were never any issues, quite the contrary," he explained. "Then I began to be labeled homophobic, which felt excessive. It seemed as though people were deliberately sensationalizing untruths. In Argentina, terms like 'maricon' [a derogatory term for a homosexual man] or 'cagón' [coward/s***bag] are commonly used as insults. Thankfully, the team and coaching staff stood by me, offering much-needed reassurance."

It appeared that Prestianni considered being branded a racist more offensive than the homophobic insults he admitted to using.

"Mbappe calling me a 'f***ing racist'?" Prestianni recounted. "Labeling someone racist is an insult, especially when I have never been and will never be one. Clearly, he was attempting to provoke me during the game. I never intended to react, and I will not."

UEFA's investigation into the matter is still active, and Prestianni faces a potential ten-game ban if convicted of using discriminatory language. Real Madrid manager Alvaro Arbeloa has urged UEFA to demonstrate the sincerity of their anti-racism campaign through stringent punishment, fully supporting Vinicius' version of events.