Prestianni informed UEFA that he referred to Vinícius Jr. using an anti-gay slur, according to sources.
Gianluca Prestianni has already provided testimony in UEFA’s investigation regarding his purported racist remarks directed at Vinícius Júnior during Real Madrid’s Champions League playoff match against Benfica this week, sources informed ESPN.
The governing body of European football is conducting an inquiry into the incident that occurred in the second half at the Estadio da Luz in Lisbon on Tuesday, following Vinícius’s goal, which was the only one of the match.
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The Madrid forward alleged that Prestianni racially insulted him while obscuring his face with his shirt, resulting in a 10-minute delay before the game resumed.
Sources informed ESPN’s Bruno Andrade that the 20-year-old Argentinian stated he referred to Vinícius using the anti-gay slur “m——” in Spanish, rather than “mono,” which translates to monkey in Spanish.
Right after the match, Madrid midfielder Aurélien Tchouaméni mentioned on Spanish television that Prestianni had provided that explanation when questioned about the incident.
Madrid has submitted a dossier containing “all available evidence” to UEFA as part of the investigation.
Forward Kylian Mbappé offered a detailed account of what he witnessed and heard to the media following the game, asserting that he personally heard Prestianni racially insult Vinícius five times.
“I heard it,” Mbappé stated. “There are Benfica players that also heard it.”
Madrid coach Álvaro Arbeloa called for Prestianni to be penalized during a news conference on Friday, expressing his hope that the case could serve as a “turning point” in the battle against racist abuse in football.
Article 14 of UEFA’s disciplinary regulations indicates that the framework for punishment concerning both racist and anti-gay abuse is identical.
“Any entity or person subject to these regulations who insults the human dignity of a person or group of persons on whatever grounds, including skin colour, race, religion, ethnic origin, gender or sexual orientation, incurs a suspension lasting at least ten matches or a specified period of time, or any other appropriate sanction,” the regulations state.
