Benfica suspend five members over racist behaviour against Real Madrid | OneFootball

Benfica have suspended five club members for racist behaviour during the Champions League play-off with Real Madrid at Estádio da Luz on 17 February, when Vinícius Júnior accused Gianluca Prestianni of calling him a monkey.

The club said in a statement that their passes have been cancelled and disciplinary cases opened, which could lead to expulsion under Benfica’s statutes.

Those cases follow an internal probe launched after the game into racist conduct, behaviour deemed incompatible with the club’s values and principles.

In the first leg, Vinícius scored the only goal then told the referee he had been subjected to racist abuse by Prestianni.

Benfica also opened a separate inquiry into alleged racist behaviour in the stands targeting the Real Madrid forward.

Prestianni was later handed a one-match provisional suspension by UEFA, so he missed last Wednesday’s return at the Santiago Bernabéu, where José Mourinho’s side lost 2-1 and went out of Europe.

Source: Superdeporte