Prestianni denied using racist language towards Vinicius Jr but has been provisionally suspended by Uefa while an investigation is held
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Gianluca Prestianni was involved in trainingopen image in gallery
Gianluca Prestianni was involved in training (AFP via Getty Images)
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Benfica’s Gianluca Prestianni took part in a training session at the Bernabeu despite being banned from his side’s match against Real Madrid on Wednesday while Uefa investigates reports that the 20-year-old racially abused Vinicius Jr in last week’s first leg.
Prestianni is provisionally suspended from the knockout stage play-off second leg following an announcement from Uefa on Monday, but was involved in Benfica’s training session in Real Madrid’s stadium on the eve of the match. Prestianni has denied using racist language towards Vinicius, claiming the Brazilian misheard him.
Benfica manager Jose Mourinho also oversaw the training session on his return to the Bernabeu, even though he is suspended from the second leg, and did not hold a pre-match press conference ahead of the match after being sent off in his team’s 1-0 defeat in Lisbon.
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(AFP via Getty Images)
In Mourinho’s absence, Benfica assistant coach Joao Tralhao declined to comment on Prestianni’s suspension and the allegations of racist abuse. “We are not going to talk about the topic you asked about," Tralhao said when asked about Prestianni.
Earlier, Real Madrid coach Alvaro Arbeloa offered his support to Vinicius while goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois condemned both racism and homophobia, saying that both forms of discrimination are equally unacceptable within football.
While Prestianni denied the accusation of racism, claiming the Brazilian misheard him, Real Madrid’s Aurelien Tchouameni stated that Prestianni admitted to him he did not call Vinicius a “monkey” but instead directed a homophobic comment towards him.
"It's just as serious because they are homophobic insults," Courtois said, adding: "I've also seen the images from the Benfica stand during the match and I think it's deplorable to see that in a stadium. You may like a player more or less, but making those gestures is shameful... I haven't seen if they've said anything about going after their fans who made those monkey gestures.”
Gianluca Prestianni trains at the Bernabeuopen image in gallery
Gianluca Prestianni trains at the Bernabeu (AFP via Getty Images)
Courtois also criticised Mourinho, who suggested Vinicius's goal celebration might have provoked the fans. “Vini didn't do anything wrong. He celebrated the way many opponents have celebrated against us too," Courtois said. “In the end we need to move on and leave it at that. We can't justify an alleged act of racism with a celebration."
In his post-match comments, Mourinho said “something happens, always” in matches where Vinicius plays and criticised the nature of his celebration before the alleged racist abuse took place.
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(AFP via Getty Images)
The former Chelsea, Inter, Real Madrid and Manchester United manager was heavily criticised by Vincent Kompany, the former Manchester City defender and current Bayern Munich head coach, while Mourinho was accused of “gaslighting” by anti-discrimination charity Kick It Out.
As he is suspended from the play-off second leg, Mourinho was allowed to skip his pre-match press conference.
"I don’t know where he (Mourinho) will be [during the match],” Tralhao said. “We prepared this match anticipating every scenario that may happen... From our side, as staff, we prepared the team, we prepared all the scenarios so that tomorrow we can perform at our level.”
Includes reporting from Reuters