Gianluca Prestianni trains at Real Madrid's stadium despite ban from Wednesday's match
BBC World
February 24, 2026
AI-Generated Deep Dive Summary
Benfica winger Gianluca Prestianni trained with his teammates at Real Madrid’s stadium on Wednesday, despite being provisionally banned from the Champions League match between the two sides. The incident stems from a celebration by Vinicius Jr., a Brazilian forward for Real Madrid, during last week's game in Lisbon. After scoring a goal, Vinicius celebrated in front of Benfica supporters, which Mourinho deemed disrespectful and potentially inciting racial tensions. While Courtois defended Vinicius, arguing that his celebration was not grounds for racism, Uefa has taken action by banning Prestianni pending further investigation.
The match was halted for 10 minutes after Vinicius reported an incident on the field, with players temporarily leaving the pitch. Security concerns arose as reports of racist gestures in the stands emerged, prompting calls for stronger measures to address such issues. Courtois emphasized the need for security personnel to act swiftly and called for improvements in stadium safety protocols to prevent similar incidents.
Mourinho, who was suspended for the second leg of the match, claimed that both Vinicius and Prestianni provided differing accounts of the celebration incident. Meanwhile, Rui Costa, Benfica’s president, defended Prestianni, stating he deserves trust after being “crucified” by critics. However, Uefa has yet to fully investigate the matter and could impose further penalties.
Real Madrid manager Alvaro Arbeloa urged Uefa to use this incident as a turning point in its ongoing fight against racism in football. He emphasized the importance of taking concrete steps beyond symbolic gestures to address racial discrimination, calling for stronger action from governing bodies. The situation highlights the broader societal issue of how football authorities handle allegations of racism and whether they can truly create a more inclusive environment.
This controversy underscores the challenges football faces in balancing player behavior with the need for social responsibility. As global audiences closely follow such incidents
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Originally published on BBC World on 2/24/2026