Benfica forward Dodi Lukebakio has become the first player from the Portuguese side to open the door to the possibility that Gianluca Prestianni racially abused Vinicius Junior last week in their Champions League clash with Real Madrid. So far, Benfica’s players and manager Jose Mourinho had stuck to Prestianni’s word that he did not do so.
UEFA have opened an investigation into the incident, and handed a one-match temporary ban to Prestianni, which will prevent him from playing at the Santiago Bernabeu on Wednesday night. Nevertheless, Benfica have appealed the ban, and Prestianni trained with his team at the Bernabeu on Tuesday night ahead of the game.
Lukebakio: ‘If he said it, I can’t accept it’
Of course, Benfica have a number of players in their own side who would be affected by racist abuse, including Lukebakio. The former Sevilla star implied that Real Madrid might be trying to take advantage of the situation.
“It’s true that people are talking and speculating, but in the end, we don’t really know what he said. Is it true, or was it an exaggeration to take advantage of the situation? I think it’s also possible that Real Madrid wanted to exploit this,” he told Pickx + Sports, as quoted by Diario AS.
However if the investigation finds Prestianni guilty, then Lukebakio would be in favour of punishment.
“I just hope what he said is false. Because if it’s true, I can’t accept it. I’m against injustice. And all injustice deserves to face the consequences.”
What punishment could Prestianni face?
While it seems he will serve a one-game ban regardless, Prestianni would face a 10-game ban as a minimum if he is found guilty of discriminatory language. Benfica President Rui Costa has said that they will stand by Prestianni, and that ‘if he was racist, he wouldn’t be a Benfica player’.
This is all so ridiculous. It is all based on unproveable hearsay. If Prestianni is a racist then surely Lukebakio, on his own team, or other black players from other teams, would be able to come forth as eyewitnesses to Prestianni’s racism. Why is it always Vinicius Jr. who is the victim? That is the $64,000 question?
Why is it always Vinicius Jr. who is the victim?
“Speaking about Mourinho’s comments, in which he claimed that with Eusebio as an icon of the club, ‘Benfica could not be racist.’ He also noted that ‘it’s a problem everywhere Vinicius goes, in every stadium’, while discussing his celebrations.” – Curtois on Mourinho’s comments
Vini is a fabulous footballer but an immature clown with his antics on the field.
Okay – 3 separate things at play that connect together.
1. Provocation – Vini is provocateur… similar to a lot of players, managers and presidents.
2. Vini in form decides games (one of the best)
3. Vini gets fired up and responds to racism.
For a lot of people, the only way to stop Vini being decisive is to racially abuse him. That way he gets derailed during the game… possibly affecting his general form also.
It is the same reason Lamine was racially abused at the Bernabeu by a small group of similar minded people.
Racism is vile.
Do not let your support for Barcelona blind you to the fact that these are people… the football is just a sport.