Portugal icon slams Benfica's Prestianni: should be... | OneFootball

Joaquim Evangelista, president of the Players' Union, believes that Prestianni’s punishment for homophobic insults directed at Vinicius Jr. should serve as an example for football, reiterating that this behavior is as serious as racism. In the same vein, the union leader argued that the case should be seen as a warning to the entire sector, stressing that episodes of discrimination "have no place in football".

"Racism, homophobia, xenophobia, violence, harassment or doping deserve our total repudiation. Anyone who engages in this kind of behavior must be punished," he said in statements to the Lusa news agency, adding that "homophobic insults are as serious as racist ones".

The official recalled that, from the beginning of the process, the union defended the player’s presumption of innocence and the need for a swift clarification of the facts, considering that those principles were respected by UEFA. "It was important for there to be a disciplinary process carried out with speed and rigor, and that is what happened," he said.

"At a time when society and the world are so polarized, with families living in economic and political uncertainty, sport and football end up becoming the space where many frustrations are expressed. It is important for those involved in sport to be aware of their role and of how their behavior impacts society. Unfortunately, that has not been the case," he argued.

This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇵🇹 here.