Benfica issued an official statement following the proceedings announced by UEFA due to the accusation of racism against Vinícius Júnior in the match against Real Madrid.
The Portuguese club stated that it is open to "collaboration and transparency," offering its full openness to clarify the facts before the highest body of European football, although it also stated that it "fully supports and believes" in Gianluca Prestianni's version.
In the statement, the club affirms, in a "clear and unequivocal" manner, its historical commitment to the values of equality, respect, and inclusion.
Benfica also emphasizes that these principles have been fundamental since its foundation and recalls that it has Eusébio, a legend of world football, as its ultimate symbol in the fight against any form of discrimination.
Read the full statement:
The Club reaffirms, in a clear and unequivocal manner, its historical and unwavering commitment to the defense of the values of equality, respect, and inclusion, which align with the foundational values of its establishment and have Eusébio as their greatest symbol.
Sport Lisboa e Benfica also reiterates that it fully supports and believes in the version presented by player Gianluca Prestianni, whose conduct in service of the Club has always been guided by respect for opponents, institutions, and the principles that define Benfica's identity. The Club regrets the defamation campaign that the player has been a victim of.
Unconditional Support for Prestianni
The Benfica board also wanted to demonstrate its unconditional support for Gianluca Prestianni.
The club states that it fully believes in its player's version, highlighting that his behavior has always been exemplary and respectful towards opponents and institutions.
For Benfica, the athlete is being a victim of an unfair defamation campaign.
The club reiterates that it will remain firm in defending its identity and its professionals.
Understand the Case
As the teams were preparing for the restart of the game, Vini Jr ran to the referee and claimed to have been the target of a racist offense by Gianluca Prestianni, who had his mouth covered by his shirt.
Referee François Letexier activated the anti-racism protocol, followed by a 10-minute stoppage.
Kylian Mbappé corroborated Vini's version, stating that he heard Prestianni use the word "monkey" five times.
The Argentine, on the other hand, denied using such language and said he was misunderstood.
UEFA is Already Investigating the Incident
Meanwhile, UEFA confirmed that the official reports of the matches played in the last round are under review.
Additionally, they clarified that any disciplinary sanction that may arise from this process will be publicly communicated through their official channels.
This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇧🇷 here.