UEFA has suspended Benfica's Gianluca Prestianni for six games due to alleged racist comments made towards Real Madrid's Vinicius Jr during a Champions League match. The incident occurred on February 17 during a play-off game in Lisbon.
Key points
Gianluca Prestianni received a six-game suspension from UEFA
The suspension is due to alleged racist comments towards Vinicius Jr
The incident occurred during a Champions League match
Vinicius Jr reported the racial abuse after scoring a goal
Gianluca PrestianniVinicius JrBenficaReal Madrid
Benfica's Gianluca Prestianni reacts during a game
Benfica's Gianluca Prestianni has been slapped with a six-game ban by UEFA -Credit:Joao Bravo/Sports Press Photo/Getty Images
(Joao Bravo/Sports Press Photo/Getty Images)
UEFA have handed Benfica winger Gianluca Prestianni a six-game suspension for discriminatory behaviour after he was accused of racially abusing Real Madrid forward Vinicius Jr.
The incident took place during the first leg of the Champions League play-off encounter between the two clubs in Lisbon on February 17. Vinicius Jr claimed that Prestianni had directed a racial slur at him following his opening goal.
UEFA launched an investigation and subsequently charged the player with homophobic conduct. The player will serve a two-game ban â having already sat out the second leg â with three additional games suspended for two years.
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Real Madrid's Vinicius Junior argues with referee François Letexier after scoring the opening goal during a Champions League playoff soccer match between SL Benfica and Real Madrid in Lisbon, Portugal, Tuesday, Feb. 17, 2026. (AP Photo/Pedro Rocha)
The ban stems from allegations made by Real Madrid's Vinicius Junior that the Benfica winger directed racist language towards him -Credit:AP
A statement from UEFA reads, via The Mirror: "Following the investigation of a UEFA Ethics and Disciplinary Inspector, disciplinary proceedings were opened against the SL Benfica player Gianluca Prestianni for a potential discriminatory conduct.
"The UEFA Control, Ethics and Disciplinary Body (CEDB) has taken the following decision: To suspend SL Benfica player Gianluca Prestianni for a total of six (6) UEFA club and/or representative national team official matches for which he would otherwise be eligible, for discriminatory (i.e. homophobic) conduct.
"The suspension for three (3) of these matches is subject to a probationary period of two (2) years, starting from the date of the present decision.
"This decision (i.e. the six-match suspension) includes the one-match provisional suspension served by the player during UEFA Champions League 2025/26 knock-out play-off match played on 25 February 2026 between Real Madrid CF and SL Benfica.
"To request FIFA to extend worldwide the above-mentioned suspension."
Vinicius Jr and his Real Madrid teammates walked off the field following the accusation, with play suspended for 10 minutes before resuming. Prestianni, Benfica, and their manager, Jose Mourinho, vehemently denied the allegations throughout the investigation and were incensed when he received a ban for the return game in Madrid the following week.
The Portuguese club claimed a 'defamation campaign' had been orchestrated against the Argentine. Shortly after the incident, they stated: "Given the distance, the Real Madrid players could not have heard what they claim to have heard.
"[Prestianni's] conduct in the service of the club has always been guided by respect for opponents, institutions and the principles that define Benfica's identity," Benfica added.
"The club regrets the defamation campaign of which the player has been a victim."
Benfica's Gianluca Prestianni covers his mouth with his shirt as he confronts Real Madrid's Vinicius Jr
Prestianni said in early April, 'I was punished without any evidence for something I didn't say' -Credit:Gualter Fatia/Getty Images
Vinicius Jr took to social media following the game and said: "Racists are, above all, cowards."
ESPN reported that Prestianni informed the disciplinary panel that he had, in fact, directed an anti-gay slur at the Brazilian, which Vinicius Jr had misinterpreted as a racial insult.
Publicly, however, he refuted all allegations, maintaining that he had been penalized without any supporting proof. In remarks made in April, he was adamant: "I was punished without any evidence for something I didn't say."
Real Madrid went on to claim victory in the second leg at the Bernabeu 2-1, with Vinicius Jr netting the crucial goal to hand the Spanish giants a 3-1 aggregate win.
