Benfica v Flamengo boils over after Prestianni comes on amid Vini Jr case | OneFootball

Tensions flared in a pre-season friendly between Benfica and Flamengo when midfielder Prestianni came on, prompting a touchline row between Leonardo Jardim and members of Marco Silva’s staff. According to Globo.com, it unfolded during the first half.

Prestianni entered on 27 minutes and was quickly fouled by Emerson Royal and Pulgar. Tempers spilled over as the Flamengo coach argued with the Portuguese bench. He was booed from his first touch.

Samuel Lino later called it a hard, physical contest and denied any issue with Flamengo or with Vini Jr. He said Vini Jr is special but that this game was unrelated.

Prestianni has a six-match UEFA ban for discriminatory conduct after a Benfica v Real Madrid game, in which he is said to have called Vini Jr a monkey. The offences also led to a rules change, with the International Board making mouth-covered insults a red-card offence, introduced during the World Cup from June and applied to dismiss Almirón and Hincapié.

In February at Estádio da Luz, Vini Jr put Real ahead with a superb strike early in the second half. His corner-flag celebration near a Benfica organised section drew protests and a melee, and French referee François Letexier booked him.

As play was set to restart, Vini Jr reported racist words from Prestianni, and Mbappé also accused the Benfica player. UEFA’s anti-racism protocol then halted the match for about 10 minutes, and fans threw objects before play resumed to boos for Vini Jr, with Mbappé also jeered.

Source: Globo.com