"Prestianni is not a racist. I can guarantee that!" - Benfica president Rui Costa stands firmly behind his player

The Benfica president refuses to let his players be insulted without grounds.

Details: 53-year-old Rui Costa, the current president of Lisbon’s Benfica, stated in a flash interview today that Gianluca Prestianni is definitely not a racist. He emphasized that such accusations are both dangerous and unfair, as no one can say for certain what actually happened during that controversial episode between the Argentine and the Brazilian.

According to Costa, he is absolutely confident that Prestianni is not a racist:

"Prestianni is being called a racist, but he is anything but racist. I can guarantee that.

I cannot know what was said or not said. We trust Prestianni’s word; more than that, we know our players." - Costa declared.

Earlier, Benfica filed an official complaint protesting Prestianni’s suspension for the return leg against Real Madrid. However, UEFA did not heed the Lisbon club’s arguments and upheld the ban.

The return fixture between Real Madrid and Benfica is set for tomorrow at the Santiago Bernabéu. The first leg ended with a narrow 1-0 win for Real.

Reminder: Bold move! Gianluca Prestianni to travel with Benfica to Madrid despite threats