UEFA has provisionally suspended Benfica winger Gianluca Prestianni for one match following allegations of racist abuse directed at Real Madrid's Viní
UEFA has provisionally suspended Benfica winger Gianluca Prestianni for one match following allegations of racist abuse directed at Real Madrid’s Vinícius Júnior.
The decision, announced on February 23, 2026, means the 20-year-old will miss the second leg of the Champions League knockout play-off at the Santiago Bernabéu this Wednesday.
UEFA’s Control, Ethics and Disciplinary Body imposed the ban after an interim report from a disciplinary inspector found prima facie evidence of a violation of Article 14 regarding discriminatory behaviour.
What happened in Portugal?
The incident occurred during the first leg in Lisbon on February 17, 2026, shortly after Vinícius scored the match’s only goal in a 1-0 victory for Madrid.
Television footage showed Prestianni covering his mouth with his jersey while speaking to the Brazilian forward, leading to a heated confrontation.
Following a report from Vinícius, referee François Letexier activated FIFA’s anti-racism protocol, halting the match for approximately 10 to 11 minutes as Real Madrid players initially prepared to leave the pitch in protest.
Prestianni has social media posts and official statements denying the use of any racist slurs, claiming instead that Vinícius “misunderstood” his words.
Some reports suggest the player admitted to using an anti-gay slur rather than a racist one in his testimony to UEFA.
What did Benfica say?
Benfica has publicly supported the player, describing the accusations as a “defamation campaign” and announcing plans to appeal the provisional suspension, though they acknowledged the appeal is unlikely to be processed before Wednesday’s kickoff.
What will happen if Prestianni is found guilty?
The one-match ban is a temporary measure while the full investigation continues.
If found guilty of racial abuse under UEFA’s disciplinary code, Prestianni could face a minimum suspension of 10 matches.
The case has drawn significant international attention, with Real Madrid teammate Kylian Mbappé reportedly telling officials he heard the abuse and later stating that such behaviour is “unacceptable” for world football.
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