Video footage from 2022 showing Benfica defender Gianluca Prestiani punching a Brazilian opponent during a youth international match has been republished by Spanish media, following allegations that the Argentine directed racist abuse at Real Madrid’s Vinicius Junior during Tuesday’s Champions League fixture.
The resurfaced footage has intensified scrutiny of Prestiani’s conduct after the Brazilian forward accused him of making racist remarks during Real Madrid’s 1-0 victory at the Estadio da Luz, prompting match officials to halt play for approximately 10 minutes whilst implementing FIFA’s anti-racism protocol.
Portuguese authorities have launched a formal investigation into the racism allegations, with Prestiani and Benfica potentially facing criminal sanctions if the claims are substantiated.
The emergence of the historical footage adds further context to questions about the defender’s on-field behaviour.
2022 youth tournament incident detailed
Spanish newspaper Marca republished the footage from the Montaigu Under-17 Championship final in France, which took place approximately four years ago. The incident occurred immediately after Brazil defeated Argentina 2-1 in the youth tournament final.
The video shows tensions that had accumulated throughout the match erupting at the final whistle, when Prestiani, then representing Argentina’s under-17 national team, punched Brazilian player Dalla Cort, triggering a widespread confrontation between both squads.
The publication of the historical footage was described by Marca as deliberate rather than coincidental, with the newspaper implicitly suggesting a pattern of problematic behaviour from the Argentine defender, particularly in matches involving Brazilian opposition.
Recent Champions League controversy
The current controversy arose during Tuesday evening’s Champions League play-off first leg at Benfica’s home stadium.
Vinicius scored the match’s only goal before celebrating with a dance at the corner flag, which prompted a yellow card from referee Francois Letexier for what was deemed an excessive celebration.
During subsequent confrontations with Benfica players, Vinicius alleged that Prestiani had directed racist language towards him whilst covering his mouth with his shirt.
The Brazilian immediately reported the incident to match officials, triggering the formal anti-racism protocol.
Real Madrid secured qualification advantage ahead of next Wednesday’s return leg at the Santiago Bernabeu, though the racism allegations have overshadowed the sporting outcome of the fixture and prompted widespread debate about discrimination in European football.
Pattern of behaviour questioned
The resurfacing of the 2022 footage has prompted questions about whether Prestiani demonstrates a pattern of aggressive or inappropriate conduct, particularly when facing Brazilian opponents.
Youth international matches are typically closely monitored by football authorities, though specific disciplinary outcomes from the Montaigu incident have not been publicly detailed.
The timing of the video’s republication, coinciding with serious racism allegations, has added complexity to an already sensitive situation.
Whilst historical on-field violence and alleged racist abuse represent distinct disciplinary matters, the footage has contributed to broader discussions about player conduct standards.
Prestiani has not publicly addressed either the current racism allegations or the resurfaced footage from the 2022 youth tournament. Benfica have similarly not issued statements regarding their player’s alleged conduct or the historical incident.
Investigation and potential consequences
Portugal’s Authority for the Prevention and Combat of Violence in Sport has confirmed it is conducting administrative disciplinary proceedings to establish facts surrounding the racism allegations.
The investigation could result in substantial fines, sporting sanctions, or criminal prosecution if evidence supports the claims.
UEFA is expected to conduct parallel disciplinary procedures, as the incident occurred during a Champions League fixture under the organisation’s jurisdiction.
The combination of state-level and sporting authority investigations represents an unusually comprehensive response to racism allegations.
The resurfaced video, whilst not directly related to the current investigation, has intensified public pressure for thorough examination of the allegations and appropriate sanctions if wrongdoing is established.
The footage serves as historical context amid broader discussions about player conduct and discrimination in football.
As investigations continue into the racism allegations, the emergence of historical footage showing Prestiani’s involvement in violent conduct has complicated the narrative surrounding the incident.
The case now encompasses questions about both the specific allegations from Tuesday’s match and broader patterns of on-field behaviour.
This is a video from 2022 Montaigu tournament final between Argentina U17 and Brazil U17.
Gianluca Prestianni started beating and punching the Brazilian player after he lost the final. He was barely 16. What a thug.pic.twitter.com/zNsrlshnSY
— LBW (@losblancoswrld) February 18, 2026
