Former Benfica captain Luisao has accused Gianluca Prestianni of lying following allegations he racially abused Vinicius Jr during Tuesday’s Champions League clash with Real Madrid.
The match in Lisbon was halted for 10 minutes after Vinicius reported alleged abuse to referee Francois Letexier, who activated UEFA’s anti-racism protocol.
Madrid players briefly left the field before returning to complete a 1-0 first-leg victory.
Prestianni has denied using discriminatory language, stating: “At no point did I direct racist insults at Vinicius Jr., who unfortunately misunderstood what he thought he heard. I have never been racist toward anyone.”
Benfica and manager Jose Mourinho have publicly backed the 20-year-old, insisting the club rejects any form of racism.
Luisao: ‘It was a racist act’
Luisao, who made more than 500 appearances for Benfica, criticised both the alleged incident and Prestianni’s response.
“This jersey is too big. I love Benfica, it’s my second skin, but you have to be worthy to wear the sacred mantle,” he said.
“And this text makes [everything] worse because it’s a lie. Football is won with grit, with fighting spirit. It was a racist act, yes, and I’m ashamed of it.”
He added: “Benfica is too big to be involved in this, whether it’s true or not. Although, from experience, I know the truth.”
Club and global reaction
Benfica reiterated their support for Prestianni in an official statement, describing the situation as a “defamation campaign” and reaffirming their commitment to “equality, respect, and inclusion,” citing club legend Eusebio as a symbol of their values.
After the game, Vinicius wrote on social media: “Racists are, above all, cowards.”
Meanwhile, UEFA has confirmed an ongoing investigation into the incident. If found guilty, Prestianni could face a significant suspension from European competition.
The second leg is scheduled for next week, though the disciplinary process may extend beyond the tie.