Article by Maria Olteanu – Published Tuesday, February 24, 2026, 4:43 p.m. / Updated Tuesday, February 24, 2026, 4:45 p.m.
Javier Castrilli (68), a former Argentinian referee, defended Prestianni (20) and attacked UEFA for the provisional suspension without evidence. The former referee who participated in the 1998 World Cup in France reacted to the provisional suspension of Gianluca Prestianni in the alleged racism case against Vinicius Junior, harshly criticizing UEFA for the decision and attacking the Brazilian's “provocative” attitude.
“Humiliate, despise, denigrate, generate violence this serial provocateur, protected by impunity by cowardly referees, to then victimize himself in a defense of human imbecility. Believe in this invention of excesses“the former referee wrote on social networks, defending his compatriot.
Castrilli defended Prestianni
“UEFA suspended Prestianni? Without evidence? From now on, anyone can accuse without evidence. This is the human specialty and the level of degradation that Europe is suffering… It has also reached football,” he stated.
“Following the logic implemented by UEFA, from now on the referees will be able to exclude from the field any player accused of insulting an opponent… What a big stupidity,” added Castrilli, quoted by abola.pt.
Javier Castrilli // photo: Imago
“Two mistakes by UEFA: on the one hand, they sanction by presumption, without objective evidence, and on the other hand, by the context of the facts, they protect the impunity of the mockery, the incitement to violence resulting from the provocation of the public by Vinícius. Tremendous and historic,” he concluded about the incident.
Benfica does not give in in the case of “Prestianni”
Although UEFA suspended Gianluca Prestianni for one stage, provisionally, Benfica insists that the player make the trip, for the return match with Real Madrid this evening. The Portuguese lost the first leg, in Lisbon, 1-0.
The Portuguese do not accept the continental forum's decision to provisionally suspend Gianluca Prestianni, one stage, following the incident with Vinicius junior in the leg-tour, and want to appeal.
According to Spanish daily Marca, pending a speedy resolution of the appeal, the multiple Portuguese champions intend to take the Argentine international away from Madrid so that he can play on Wednesday if his suspension is lifted.
