Flamengo fans give Prestiani a hostile reception after Vinicius racism scandal

Benfica's Argentine winger Gianluca Prestiani once again found himself at the center of controversy, this time involving Real Madrid and Brazil star Vinicius Junior.

During a pre-season friendly between Benfica and Flamengo, which ended in a 2-1 victory for the Brazilian side, Flamengo supporters relentlessly booed the 19-year-old Argentine nearly every time he touched the ball. The stands erupted with applause after a hard tackle by Flamengo defender Emerson on Prestiani, further fueling the tense atmosphere.

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The hostile reaction stemmed from a racist incident earlier this year. In February, Prestiani was sanctioned for making homophobic insults toward Vinicius Junior, covering his mouth with his hand as he spoke. Following an investigation, the Argentine received a six-match suspension, three of which were to be served immediately. This decision marked one of the first such punishments in international football.