European government intervenes in the Vinicius racial discrimination case

The Portuguese government declared it will conduct an independent inquiry into Gianluca Prestianni’s accusations of racial discrimination towards Vinicius.

Through the Agency for the Prevention and Combat of Violence in Sports (APCVD), the Portuguese government has officially launched an investigation to clarify the racial discrimination claims targeting Vinicius during the match between Benfica and Real Madrid. This agency stated that administrative procedures have been initiated to verify whether any racially offensive behavior actually took place.

At the same time, UEFA confirmed it is reviewing the match report. The European football governing body said all recorded incidents will be examined according to proper procedures, and if disciplinary action is warranted, decisions will be publicly announced on UEFA’s platform.

The incident occurred around the 10th minute of the second half in the match held in Lisbon. After Vinicius scored a beautiful goal for Real Madrid and celebrated by running to the corner flag in front of the home fans, some Benfica players reacted strongly, considering the celebration provocative. The match was temporarily halted as players argued and the refereeing team intervened according to regulations.

Just before play resumed, Vinicius, standing near Gianluca Prestianni, approached the referee to report what he believed he had heard. The Benfica winger was accused of making racially discriminatory remarks, amid reports that he covered his mouth while speaking on the field.

After the match, Vinicius spoke out strongly: “Racists are, above all, cowards. They have to cover their mouths with shirts to show their weakness… What happened today is nothing new to me or my team.” The Brazilian superstar also expressed confusion over receiving a yellow card for his goal celebration and criticized the on-field handling process as not entirely effective.

Meanwhile, Prestianni completely denied the accusations. On social media, he asserted that he never used any racist language against Vinicius and suggested there might have been a misunderstanding. He also revealed that he has received threats following the incident.

If the allegations are proven, both Benfica and Prestianni could face disciplinary measures ranging from fines to referral to judicial authorities. Investigations by sports bodies and the Portuguese government are expected to conclude soon, providing a clear resolution to this highly controversial matter.