Courtois weighs in on Prestianni suspension: Homophobia 'just as serious' as racism

[p]UEFA provisionally suspended [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/prestianni-gianluca/C2bbqoRj/"]Prestianni[/a] on Monday for one match after Argentine Prestianni was ‌accused of insulting [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/vinicius-junior/CbwQ4Mws/"]Vinicius[/a] during [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/real-madrid/W8mj7MDD/"]Real[/a]'s [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/game/soccer/benfica-zBkyuyRI/real-madrid-W8mj7MDD/?mid=WxePtoiU"]1-0 playoff first-leg victory in Lisbon.[/a][/p][p]Denying the accusation, Prestianni said the Brazilian misheard ‌him, while Real's [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/tchouameni-aurelien/QkiZum3e/"]Aurelien Tchouameni[/a] said the Argentine told him he did not call ‌Vinicius a "monkey" but directed a homophobic comment at him.[/p][p][b]"It's just as serious because they are homophobic insults... ‌I've also seen the images from the [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/benfica/zBkyuyRI/"]Benfica[/a] stand during the match, and I ‌think it's deplorable to see that in a stadium," [/b][a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/courtois-thibaut/MVExOq3n/"]Courtois[/a] told reporters on Tuesday, referring to fans making monkey gestures.[/p][p][b]"You may like a player more or less, but making those gestures is shameful... I haven't seen if ‌they've said anything about going after their fans who made ⁠those monkey gestures.[/b][/p][p][b]"But with everything that has happened, ‌there are many things that haven't been done well. I think that racism, homophobia - all of these ​things - we simply cannot accept them, and the insult is equally serious."[/b][/p][p]Courtois was also disappointed that Benfica coach Jose Mourinho said the fans were provoked by Vinicius' ​goal celebration.[/p][p][b]"Vini didn't do anything wrong. He celebrated the way many opponents have celebrated against us, too,"[/b] Courtois said.[/p][p]"In the end, we need to move on and leave it at ⁠that. We can't justify an alleged ​act of racism with a celebration."[/p][image alt="Benfica's Gianluca Prestianni in action with Real Madrid's Vinicius Junior" id="88de8289-a8a6-40ce-8aa2-cb0def27963f" credit-line="Reuters / Rodrigo Antunes" guid="0d455b35-de36-4d47-a34d-130b859d60d6" original-width="6092" original-height="4144" /][h2]UEFA rules state 10-game suspension[/h2][p]UEFA rules state that "any person or entity that insults the human dignity of a person" on grounds including sexual orientation incurs a minimum suspension of 10 games.[/p][p]The referee halted the game for 11 minutes after Vinicius complained, and Courtois said anti-racism ‌protocols were getting better.[/p][p][b]"In the end, the problem is that, in that moment, it was Vinicius who decided that we went back to playing. If Vini had said no, that he couldn't continue, then I think as a team we would have taken a stand there," [/b]Courtois added.[/p][p]"Then, obviously, the other things that happened in the stands, for me, are reasons to stop a match and throw those people out.[/p][p][b]"If it happens right in front of someone who is two metres away - a Benfica stadium security guard - then that person has to act and call the authorities... I think we can keep improving, and I think as a ‌society we also need to stop being so foolish."[/b][/p][video alt="Real Madrid vs Benfica (second leg preview)" credit-line="Flashscore" guid="03cbfada-0df4-48bd-a85d-8acbf5f124d9" id="c1e6d6de-44cb-4af0-b768-f6528fb2418b" /][p]Real Madrid coach Alvaro Arbeloa said ahead ​of the second leg against Benfica in Madrid on Wednesday that Vinicius had shown "great ‌bravery and character" since the alleged insult directed at him.[/p][p][b]"Anyone in his situation, I don't know how I would react. He has always responded with courage, showing a huge personality and a lot of character... He is a fighter," [/b]Arbeloa said.[/p][p]"He's very well, eager and motivated for these kind of games... He is a game-changing player. He is ⁠a leader, and we need him to ⁠get back to have fun tomorrow ‌so he has a great match."[/p][p][b][a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/game/soccer/benfica-zBkyuyRI/real-madrid-W8mj7MDD/?mid=M1zZ0lxn"]Follow the second leg between Real Madrid and Benfica here.[/a] [/b][/p]