New twist in the scandal! Prestianni admits to using homophobic, but not racist slurs towards Vinicius

UEFA's investigation into alleged racism during the Benfica vs Real Madrid Champions League match has taken an unexpected turn.

Details: According to ESPN, Benfica midfielder Gianluca Prestianni has already testified before the disciplinary committee. The Argentine denies the accusations of racism but admits to using another extremely offensive insult.

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In his testimony, Prestianni stated that during the on-field altercation, he did not call Vinicius Junior a monkey. Instead, he confessed to directing a homophobic slur in Spanish—“m*ricón” (a derogatory term for a gay person)—towards the Brazilian. In this way, the player is trying to prove that his conflict with the Real Madrid forward was not racially motivated.

Reports indicate that Prestianni's defense is based on admitting to aggressive behavior but firmly denying any discrimination based on skin color. For UEFA, this creates a legally complex scenario: if the player's version is confirmed, the racism charge may be dropped, but he still faces a lengthy suspension for using homophobic language, which is also strictly punished by the regulations.

Reminder: Real Madrid head coach Álvaro Arbeloa commented on Vinicius's goal celebration and responded to José Mourinho.