Pep Guardiola speaks openly about the Vinicius racial discrimination incident

Man City's manager, Pep Guardiola, expressed his opinion regarding the dispute between Benfica’s Gianluca Prestianni and Real Madrid’s Vinicius.

The event that took place during the UEFA Champions League match between Real Madrid and Benfica sparked strong reactions from many prominent figures in the football world. These accusations involving Benfica midfielder Gianluca Prestianni and Real Madrid forward Vinicius have brought increased scrutiny to discriminatory behavior on the pitch. Among those speaking out was Man City’s coach, Pep Guardiola.

Guardiola commented on the allegations that Vinicius was subjected to racist insults during the match against Benfica, emphasizing that racism is not limited to football alone.

At a press conference before the match against Newcastle, he stated that racism exists throughout society and must be addressed at its root. When asked if football has sufficient means to combat discrimination, he said: “Your skin color or place of birth doesn’t make you superior to anyone. There is still a lot to be done. Racism exists in society, not just in football.”

The Spanish tactician also highlighted the importance of education in preventing discrimination. Guardiola believes that teachers and doctors should receive greater investment and recognition, and stressed that long-term solutions must start in schools, not just through disciplinary actions in sports. He reiterated that societal change requires a systemic commitment.

However, there remains a possibility that the incident did not involve racist language. According to reports, Prestianni has explained to UEFA that he used a derogatory term targeting sexual orientation in Spanish, rather than racist language. UEFA is continuing its official investigation, reviewing testimonies and evidence from the match before reaching a conclusion.

This distinction raises two separate issues. Even if the words are deemed non-racist, they may still be considered discriminatory under UEFA regulations and result in disciplinary action. Currently, the governing body has not announced any final decisions or specific sanctions.

While awaiting the verdict, no official decision has been made regarding Prestianni’s status. Benfica has decided to bring the player along with the team to Spain to participate in the second leg at Santiago Bernabeu against Real Madrid.