MADRID: Benfica player Gianluca Prestianni has denied racially insulting Real Madrid forward Vinícius Júnior during a Champions League match when he covered his mouth with his jersey. “I have never been racist with anyone and I regret the threats that I received from Real Madrid players,” the 20-year-old Argentina forward, who faces a potential 10-match ban if found guilty of racial abuse in UEFA’s disciplinary code, said on X. The European soccer governing body said Wednesday it has appointed a special investigator to gather evidence.

Dopo aver segnato, il brasiliano ha denunciato di essere stato chiamato 'scimmia' da Prestianni e ha minacciato di andarsene. Poi l'intervento di Mourinho ha p…

Vinícius Júnior scored as Real Madrid won 1-0 in Benfica but the Champions League playoff first leg was overshadowed by an accusation that the Brazilian was racially abused