UEFA on Monday suspended midfielder Gialuca Prestianni from Benfica’s Champions League play-off second leg against Real Madrid this week after he was accused of racially abusing Vinicius Junior.
UEFA’s disciplinary body, who are still investigating the alleged incident from last week’s first leg, said in a statement that they had decided to provisionally suspend Prestianni for the next UEFA club competition match.
“Following the appointment of a UEFA Ethics and Disciplinary Inspector (EDI) to investigate allegations of discriminatory behaviour during the UEFA Champions League 2025/2026 Knock-out Play-off match between SL Benfica and Real Madrid CF on 17 February 2026, and upon request of the EDI with an interim report, the UEFA Control, Ethics and Disciplinary Body (CEDB) today decided to provisionally suspend Mr. Gianluca Prestianni for the next (1) UEFA club competition match for which he would otherwise be eligible for the prima facie violation of Article 14 of the UEFA Disciplinary Regulations (DR) related to a discriminatory behaviour.
“This is without prejudice to any ruling that the UEFA disciplinary bodies may subsequently make following the conclusion of the ongoing investigation and its respective submission to the UEFA disciplinary bodies,” the football body said.
The decision follows allegations of discriminatory behaviour during the first-leg encounter on February 17, 2026, in Lisbon, where Real Madrid secured a 1-0 victory.
The incident occurred after Vinícius Júnior scored, leading to a heated confrontation in which the Brazilian forward accused Prestianni of directing a racist slur at him, specifically the term “mono” (Spanish for “monkey”), while covering his mouth with his shirt.
The referee invoked UEFA’s anti-racism protocol, resulting in a roughly 10-minute pause in play as the matter was addressed on the field.
Vinícius initially appeared reluctant to continue but eventually resumed, later posting on social media that “racists are, above all, cowards.”
Prestianni could face further sanctions, including a potential multi-match ban, depending on the evidence presented, which may include referee reports, match footage, witness statements, and player testimonies.
He has denied making any racist remark, claiming instead that he used a homophobic slur (an anti-gay insult in Spanish) rather than a racial one.
Benfica has publicly backed its player, expressing confidence in his character while the club reportedly prepares arguments to challenge or mitigate the sanction.
The case has reignited broader discussions about racism in football, particularly given Vinícius Júnior’s history of facing similar abuse in Spain and Europe.
Prestianni’s absence represents a blow to Benfica’s attacking options ahead of the decisive return leg, where Real Madrid holds a narrow advantage.
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