UEFA has banned Gianluca Prestianni for six matches for homophobic conduct during Benfica’s Champions League knockout play-off against Real Madrid in February.
themomentng reports that the match at Estádio da Luz was halted for 10 minutes after Vinicius Jr accused the Benfica winger of racially abusing him during the second half of the UEFA Champions League tie.
Prestianni, 20, denied making a racist remark and insisted Vinicius had misheard him. However, Real midfielder Aurélien Tchouaméni later said the winger admitted directing a homophobic comment at the Brazilian.
The Argentine has already served a provisional one-match suspension and will now miss two more games immediately, while a further three-match ban has been suspended for two years. UEFA has asked FIFA to extend the punishment worldwide.
Vinicius had put Real 1-0 ahead before being booked for an excessive celebration. After an exchange with Prestianni, the forward approached referee François Letexier while gesturing towards the Benfica player. Letexier responded with the crossed-arms signal introduced in May 2024 to flag racist abuse.
Vinicius then left the pitch with his team-mates. After the game he wrote on Instagram: “Racists are, above all, cowards.”
Prestianni would have faced a minimum 10-match European ban had he been found guilty of racist abuse.
Benfica defended their player, claiming there was a “defamation campaign” against him and saying they “fully support” and believe his account of events. Manager José Mourinho had earlier warned Prestianni’s career under him would be “over” if the abuse was proven.
Two weeks later, FIFA president Gianni Infantino said players who cover their mouths during confrontations should be sent off. Football’s rule-making body, the International Football Association Board, has already agreed to examine measures to stop players hiding what they say to opponents.
