Benfica’s Gianluca Prestianni handed provisional ban over Vinicius Jr racism incident in Champions League

Benfica winger Gianluca Prestianni has been suspended for 1 crippled while Uefa investigates allegations that nan 20-year-old racially abused Real Madrid’s Vinicius Jr successful their Champions League play-off first leg.

Prestianni was seen holding his garment complete his rima during a heated speech pinch Madrid players pursuing Vinicius’s second-half goal. The Brazilian winger rushed to nan referee to study what he claimed was racist abuse.

The French official, Francois Letexier, paused nan lucifer for 11 minutes aft activating Fifa’s anti-racism protocols, but nan action later continued pinch Prestianni connected nan field. Fans wrong nan Estadio da Luz loudly booed and jeered Vinicius passim nan remainder of nan game, arsenic Real Madrid saw out a 1-0 victory.

Prestianni’s manager, Jose Mourinho, later blamed Vinicius for “inciting” Benfica’s players pinch his exuberant extremity celebration, while Prestianni denied he had utilized racist language, claiming he had been misheard while utilizing a homophobic slur.

But Vinicius’s teammate, Kylian Mbappe said he had heard the violative words, adding that he did not deliberation Prestianni deserved to play successful nan Santiago Bernabeu, wherever Madrid will big Benfica for nan 2nd limb connected Wednesday evening.

“There was subordinate No 25 (Prestianni) from Benfica – I don’t want to mention his name, he doesn’t merit it,” Mbappe said, “who started speaking rudely and saying insults. That’s unacceptable, but it happens successful shot and it will ever happen.

“Then he put his garment down present and said ‘monkey, monkey, monkey, monkey, monkey’. I heard him opportunity it, and immoderate Benfica players heard him too, and past everything you saw started.”

Now nan Argentine will not beryllium progressive successful nan 2nd limb aft being handed a provisional one-match ban.

Uefa said successful a statement: “Following nan assignment of a Uefa Ethics and Disciplinary Inspector (EDI) to analyse allegations of discriminatory behaviour ... and upon petition of nan EDI pinch an interim report, nan Uefa Control, Ethics and Disciplinary Body (CEDB) coming decided to provisionally suspend Mr Gianluca Prestianni for nan adjacent Uefa nine title match.

“This is without prejudice to immoderate ruling that nan Uefa disciplinary bodies whitethorn subsequently make pursuing nan conclusion of nan ongoing investigation and its respective submission to nan Uefa disciplinary bodies. Further accusation astir this matter will beryllium made disposable successful owed course.”

Mourinho has meantime cancelled his pre-match property convention up of nan gathering successful Madrid aft coming successful for terrible disapproval from crossed nan shot world.

Bayern Munich head Vincent Kompany was peculiarly beardown successful his appraisal that Mourinho had made a “huge mistake” blaming Vinicius for nan incident.

“When you watch nan action itself and really Vini reacted, that guidance cannot beryllium faked,” Kompany said. “You tin spot it was an affectional reaction. I don’t spot immoderate use for him to spell to nan referee and put each this misery connected his shoulders. In that infinitesimal he saw that it was nan correct point to do.

“Kylian Mbappe usually ever stays diplomatic, but he was very clear astir what he saw and heard. Then there’s nan Benfica subordinate who was hiding what he was saying successful his shirt. In nan stadium you tin spot location were group [Benfica fans] doing monkey signs, it’s successful nan video.

“And for me, what happened aft nan crippled is moreover worse. Jose Mourinho has fundamentally attacked nan characteristic of Vini Jr by bringing successful nan type of Vini’s ceremony to discredit what he was doing astatine that moment. It was a immense correction successful position of leadership.

“On apical of that, Mourinho mentioned nan sanction of Eusebio. He said Benfica cannot beryllium racist because their champion ever subordinate was Eusebio. Do you cognize what Black players had to spell done successful nan 60s? Was he location to recreation pinch Eusebio each distant crippled and spot what he went through?”

Benfica’s charismatic connection successful consequence to nan provisional suspension besides mentioned Eusebio arsenic they confirmed they would entreaty nan statement.

“The nine regrets being deprived of nan subordinate while nan process is still nether investigation and will entreaty this Uefa decision, moreover if nan deadlines successful mobility are improbable to person immoderate applicable effect connected nan 2nd limb of nan Champions League play-off,” nan connection read.

“Sport Lisboa e Benfica besides reaffirms its unwavering committedness to combating immoderate shape of racism aliases discrimination, values ​​that are portion of its humanities personality and that are reflected successful its regular actions, successful its world community, successful nan activity of nan Benfica Foundation and successful awesome figures successful nan club's history, specified arsenic Eusebio.”

Prestianni will now await nan findings of Uefa’s investigation. Uefa’s disciplinary rules authorities that anyone recovered to person utilized insults connected discriminatory grounds connected issues specified arsenic a race, ethnicity, gender aliases intersexual predisposition “incurs a suspension lasting astatine slightest 10 matches aliases a specified play of time, aliases immoderate different due sanction”.