Benfica forward Gianluca Prestianni has been handed a six-game suspension by UEFA for directing a homophobic slur towards Real Madrid winger Vinicius Jr.
Prestianni was originally accused of using a racial remark against Vinicius Jr in the first leg of the Champions League play-off in Lisbon on February 20. The Argentina international denied any wrongdoing but Madrid midfielder Aurelien Tchouameni said he heard a homophobic slur used.
Of the six-game sanction, three are suspended for two years while one has already been served in the return game of the Madrid tie after UEFA handed Prestianni a one-match prima facie punishment while the investigation continued.
Prestianni could miss out on World Cup selection as a result
European football’s governing body are also pushing FIFA to apply the punishment to international fixtures. Argentina are not due to play any more matches prior to the World Cup, meaning Prestianni could miss the first two games of the tournament in the United States, Canada and Mexico if selected by Lionel Scaloni. In reality, it significantly reduces his chances of making the squad.
A UEFA statement read: “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.”
What happened in the game between Benfica and Real Madrid?
The first leg of the play-off was interrupted for eight minutes after Vinicius Jr scored a brilliant goal to give Madrid the lead six minutes into the second half.
As the players prepared to restart, Vinicius ran to the referee to allege Prestianni used a racial slur while covering his mouth with his shirt.
He was then involved in discussions with Benfica manager Jose Mourinho.
What did Prestianni and Vinicius Jr say at the time?
Writing on social media, Prestianni said: “I want to clarify that at no time did I insult Vinícius Jr who, unfortunately, misinterpreted something he thinks he heard. I’ve never been racist with anyone and I regret the threats I received from the Real Madrid players.”
He added later: “If they say that, supposedly, I directed a racist insult to Vinícius Jr, why did no-one react? Accusing others of something serious is not correct, much less when it is not true. Everyone is pointing the finger at me for covering my mouth with the jersey when they know that all soccer players do it when they talk [to each other]. Stop inventing things.”
Vinicius Jr was adamant he had been racially abused. In a post on Instagram, he said: “Racists are, above all, cowards. They need to put their shirts over their mouths to show how weak they are. But they have the protection of others who, theoretically, have an obligation to punish them. Nothing that happened today is new in my life or in my team’s life.
“I received a yellow card for celebrating a goal. I still don’t understand why. On the other hand, it was just a poorly executed protocol that served no purpose.”
