Benfica president Rui Costa has come to the defense of player Gianluca Prestianni following accusations of racism that emerged during a high-stakes Champions League match against Real Madrid. Costa expressed his belief that nothing has been conclusively proven in the incident, and he criticized the decision to exclude Prestianni from the match. He emphasized the importance of trusting the players' words but acknowledged that he was not present to witness the alleged exchange first-hand.

The controversy ignited when Real Madrid star Vinícius accused Prestianni of using derogatory language, specifically referring to him as 'mono', which translates to 'monkey' in English. Prestianni has denied this accusation, stating that Vinícius must have misunderstood his words. The incident underscores the sensitive nature of racial dynamics in sports, particularly in the context of high-pressure environments like the Champions League, where tensions can lead to misinterpretations.

Costa reiterated that the situation does not reflect Benfica's commitment to being an inclusive and anti-racist club. His comments come in the wake of UEFA's confirmation of the allegations, highlighting the broader implications of racism in football and the responsibilities of clubs and players to foster a respectful environment both on and off the field.