RACISM ROW

UEFA ban Benfica's Prestianni for six games for discriminatory conduct

European football's governing body bans Argentine "for discriminatory (i.e. homophobic) conduct," with three of those matches suspended for a two-year probationary period.

SL Benfica's Argentine forward Gianluca Prestianni hides his mouth while arguing with Real Madrid's Brazilian forward Vinicius Junior who complained about alleged racists insults during the UEFA Champions League knockout round play-off first leg football match between SL Benfica and Real Madrid CF at Estadio da Luz in Lisbon on February 17, 2026. Foto: PATRICIA DE MELO MOREIRA / AFP
24 April 2026

UEFA banned Benfica winger Gianluca Prestianni for six matches on Friday after a controversial incident in their Champions League clash against Real Madrid in February.

The European football governing body said that they had taken the decision to ban the Argentine "for discriminatory (i.e. homophobic) conduct", with three of those matches suspended for a two-year probationary period.

UEFA said that Prestianni, 20, had already served one of those matches in the second leg of the Champions League play-off against Madrid.

The winger was provisionally banned for that game after Madrid star Vinicius Junior accused him of racism when they clashed in the first leg on February 17, which Prestianni denied.

As the two argued, Prestianni spoke to Vinicius while covering his mouth, with the Brazilian subsequently complaining to the referee, leading to the match being suspended for 10 minutes.

Real's Aurelien Tchouameni said after the game that Prestianni had told him that he had not racially abused Vinicius but instead called him a homophobic slur.

UEFA said that they were asking world football governing body FIFA "to extend worldwide the above-mentioned suspension."

 

– TIMES/AFP

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