Mourinho vows to end Prestianni’s Benfica career if racism guilt proven
Jose Mourinho has vowed that Gianluca Prestianni’s time at Benfica will be over if the winger is found guilty of racially abusing Vinicius Junior.
Ultimatum issued over racism allegations
The Benfica manager has broken his silence following heavy criticism regarding his initial reaction to the incident involving the Real Madrid forward.
Prestianni was accused of directing a racial slur at the Brazilian international during the Champions League playoff first leg on 17 February.
Mourinho had previously drawn ire for suggesting the Madrid winger incited the crowd, but has now taken a firm stance on the allegations against his own player.
Speaking ahead of Benfica’s league fixture at Gil Vicente, the former Chelsea boss made his position clear.
“If he is indeed guilty, I will no longer look at him the same way, and it will be over with me,” Mourinho stated.
“I absolutely condemn all forms of discrimination and idiocy.”
“If my player has not respected the principles, which are mine and those of Benfica, his career will end with me.”
Uefa investigation ongoing
The confrontation in the first leg caused a significant delay as referee Francois Letexier enacted Uefa’s formal anti-racism protocol.
European football’s governing body subsequently handed the Argentine winger a provisional one-match suspension.
This disciplinary action is pending a full investigation by an ethics and disciplinary inspector.
Consequently, the Benfica forward missed the second leg at the Santiago Bernabeu on Wednesday night.
The Spanish giants secured a 2-1 victory in that fixture to progress 3-1 on aggregate.
Club denies admission of guilt
Benfica have categorically denied reports suggesting the player admitted to team-mates that he used a racist insult.
In an official statement, the Portuguese club clarified their position and the player’s defence.
“Sport Lisboa e Benfica categorically denies that the player Prestianni has communicated to the squad or the club’s structure that he has uttered a racist insult to the player Vinicius Jr, from Real Madrid.”
“As has already been made public, the player apologised to his teammates for the incident that occurred during the match against Real Madrid, regretting the dimension and consequences of it and assuring everyone, as he has done since the first hour, that he is not racist.”
Prestianni has publicly claimed that his opponent “misinterpreted” the exchange.
If found guilty, the winger could face a ban of up to 10 matches.