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Gianluca Prestianni Under Fire on Social Media After Vinícius Controversy
A Controversy That Escalated Quickly
The match between Real Madrid and Benfica took a dramatic turn after Vinícius Jr. put Los Blancos ahead with a stunning goal in the 50th minute. From that point on, tensions rose sharply. The Brazilian forward was shown a yellow card, tempers flared between both teams, and the referee activated the anti-racism protocol following an on-field exchange.
Vinícius reported that Gianluca Prestianni had directed a racist remark toward him. The alleged comment could not be confirmed, as the Argentine winger appeared to cover his mouth with his shirt at the moment in question. The game was halted for nearly ten minutes before play eventually resumed and the Champions League clash was completed.
Social Media Backlash
While the match ended on the pitch, the controversy quickly moved online. Prestianni’s Instagram account was flooded with criticism and insults from fans. Many messages expressed support for Vinícius, while others directly labeled the Benfica player as racist.
The backlash intensified to such an extent that Prestianni decided to disable comments on his social media posts in an attempt to contain the wave of abuse.
Prestianni’s Response
The Argentine later shared a story on Instagram addressing the situation. In his statement, he denied making any racist remarks toward Vinícius and claimed that the Brazilian may have misinterpreted what he heard.
He also expressed regret over the threats he said he received, including from players linked to Real Madrid. According to Prestianni, he has never engaged in racist behavior and firmly rejected the accusations.
What Comes Next
The controversy may not be over yet. Benfica will travel to the Santiago Bernabéu on February 25 for the second leg of the playoff tie. How the Real Madrid supporters will react remains uncertain.
What is clear is that the incident has already had a significant impact beyond the pitch — and social media has once again amplified the fallout of a heated Champions League night.
