In Portugal, reports reveal whether Prestianni committed racist acts against Vinícius after leaked conversation
According to Correio da Manhã, the Argentine allegedly confessed to his Benfica teammates that he did say it.
The ongoing saga between Gianluca Prestianni and Vinícius Júnior has taken a dramatic and confusing turn. On the afternoon of February 26, 2026, the Portuguese newspaper Correio da Manhã dropped a bombshell, reporting that the young Argentine attacker had admitted to calling the Real Madrid star a "monkey" during their recent European clash.
However, SL Benfica moved with lightning speed to shut down the report, leading to a high-stakes "he said, they said" battle in the heart of Lisbon.
The "Locker Room Confession" Rumor
According to the report from Correio da Manhã, Prestianni allegedly came clean to his teammates in the locker room, admitting he used the racial slur in the heat of a high-tension match. The publication claimed the player was trying to explain the "atmosphere" of the game to his peers.
The report sent shockwaves through social media and European sports programs, piling immense pressure on the 20-year-old and the Portuguese club. While the player’s inner circle maintains that he is not racist and never intended to cause harm based on race, the "confession" narrative threatened to end his defense before the investigation even concluded.
The UEFA Hammer: Article 14
Even before this latest media storm, UEFA had already taken a hardline stance. The governing body issued a provisional suspension, which barred Prestianni from participating in the second-leg match at the Santiago Bernabéu.
The suspension is grounded in Article 14 of the UEFA Disciplinary Regulations, which carries severe penalties for conduct that insults the human dignity of a person based on race, skin color, or ethnic origin.
- Minimum Penalty: 10 matches.
- Maximum Penalty: A fixed period of time depending on the gravity of the case.
UEFA’s proactive stance serves as a warning: they are looking to set a massive precedent for future discrimination cases in European competitions.
Benfica’s 6:00 PM Counter-Attack
Facing a PR nightmare, Benfica issued an official statement at 6:00 PM local time. The club "categorically denied" that Prestianni informed the squad or the staff that he had used a racial slur against Vinícius Júnior.
The club clarified the following points:
- The Apology: Prestianni did apologize to his teammates, but the club insists the apology was for the "incident and its sporting and media consequences," not for the slur itself.
- The Player’s Stance: Benfica maintains that the player has consistently defended his innocence and reiterated that he is not racist.
By taking this firm institutional position, Benfica is shielding their young asset, but the glaring discrepancy between the newspaper reports and the official statement has left fans and officials in a state of total uncertainty.
A Career on the Line
This case is far from closed. As UEFA evaluates the evidence, the resolution will likely define the trajectory of Prestianni’s career. If found guilty, a 10-match ban would be the least of his worries; the reputational damage in a globalized sport like football could be permanent.
For Vinícius Júnior, this is yet another chapter in his long-standing battle against racism in Europe, one that continues to test the resolve of football's governing bodies.
