The president of the Portuguese club Benfica, Rui Costa, expressed his support for team player Gianluca Prestianni after he was temporarily suspended by UEFA, stating that "he is accused of racism, but he is far from that. I can guarantee it."

Costa added: "I cannot know exactly what was said or not said. What we believe is Bristiani's words, and the most important thing is that we know well the players we have within the club."

The statements from Benfica's president come amid UEFA's investigation into the incident where the Argentine player directed offensive remarks towards Brazilian star Vinicius Junior during the first leg of the Champions League qualifying playoff, with the possibility of severe sanctions on Prestiani still looming.

The situation reflects the tension between protecting the player's reputation and the European Union's commitment to combating racist behavior in football, ahead of the anticipated second-leg match at Santiago Bernabéu Stadium.