Gianluca Prestianni Takes Immediate Action Following Incident With Vini Jr
Benfica winger Gianluca Prestianni has taken swift action on social media after becoming involved in an on-field altercation with Vinícius Júnior during a heated Champions League play-off clash.
The incident occurred on Tuesday night when Real Madrid, managed by Álvaro Arbeloa, faced Benfica, coached by José Mourinho, in the first leg of their knockout tie.
Goal Sparks Tension
After a relatively quiet first half, Vinícius Júnior broke the deadlock with a powerful right-footed strike to give Real Madrid the advantage.
Moments later, tensions escalated. Referee François Letexier signaled that the anti-racism protocol had been activated following a complaint from Vinícius.
The Brazilian forward, who had just been booked for excessive celebrations, was seen in a confrontation with Prestianni before approaching the referee to raise concerns.
Vinícius briefly left the pitch and was followed by teammates as discussions took place between match officials and coaching staff. Play resumed approximately 10 minutes later.
Managers and Staff Involved
During the heated exchanges, Vinícius was also seen speaking with Mourinho, while members of both benches became involved in discussions.
Later in the match, a Real Madrid staff member was sent off, and Mourinho received a second yellow card, resulting in his dismissal.
The exact details of what was said during the altercation remain unclear.
Prestianni Disables Instagram Comments
Following the match, Benfica’s Prestianni appeared to take action off the pitch. Fans began flooding his Instagram posts with Vinícius-related images and comments.
Shortly afterward, comments were disabled on his account, a move widely interpreted as an attempt to control online abuse and prevent further escalation.
Ongoing Focus on Anti-Racism Measures
The activation of the racist abuse protocol once again highlights the growing emphasis on anti-discrimination policies in European football.
Vinícius Júnior has previously spoken out about racism in the sport, and governing bodies have increasingly implemented formal procedures to address incidents swiftly during matches.
As investigations or reviews, if any, continue, attention remains on both clubs and UEFA’s handling of the situation.
