Nyon – Benfica winger Gianluca Prestianni has been provisionally suspended by UEFA and will miss Wednesday’s crucial Champions League knockout play-off second leg against Real Madrid at the Santiago Bernabéu.
The decision, announced on February 23, 2026, follows allegations of discriminatory behavior during the first leg in Lisbon on 17 February 2026.
Real Madrid forward Vinícius Júnior accused the 20-year-old Argentine of racially abusing him after scoring the only goal in Madrid’s 1-0 victory, prompting a 10-minute halt in play.
Real Madrid’s Kylian Mbappé reportedly corroborated hearing the abuse.
UEFA’s Control, Ethics and Disciplinary Body (CEDB) imposed the one-match ban based on an interim report from its Ethics and Disciplinary Inspector, citing a prima facie violation of Article 14 of the UEFA Disciplinary Regulations concerning discriminatory conduct.
Prestianni has denied making racist remarks, reportedly admitting to UEFA that he used an anti-gay slur instead.
Benfica expressed regret over the suspension during the ongoing probe and indicated plans to appeal, though it is unlikely to overturn the immediate ban.
If found guilty of racial abuse upon full investigation, Prestianni could face a minimum 10-match ban.
The incident highlights UEFA’s stance on tackling discrimination amid heightened scrutiny in European football.
*This article was written with the assistance of the AI tool Grok on X
