UEFA on Monday announced the provisional suspension of Benfica midfielder Gianluca Prestianni from the club’s upcoming Champions League play-off second leg against Real Madrid, following allegations of racial abuse directed at Vinícius Júnior.
The governing body’s disciplinary unit, still investigating the incident from last week’s first-leg clash, said Prestianni will miss Benfica’s next UEFA club competition match.
“Following the appointment of a UEFA Ethics and Disciplinary Inspector (EDI) to investigate allegations of discriminatory behaviour during the UEFA Champions League 2025/2026 Knock-out Play-off match between SL Benfica and Real Madrid CF on 17 February 2026, and upon request of the EDI with an interim report, the UEFA Control, Ethics and Disciplinary Body (CEDB) today decided to provisionally suspend Mr. Gianluca Prestianni for the next (1) UEFA club competition match for which he would otherwise be eligible for the prima facie violation of Article 14 of the UEFA Disciplinary Regulations (DR) related to a discriminatory behaviour.
“This is without prejudice to any ruling that the UEFA disciplinary bodies may subsequently make following the conclusion of the ongoing investigation and its respective submission to the UEFA disciplinary bodies,” the statement added.
The suspension follows the alleged discriminatory incident during the first-leg match in Lisbon on February 17, 2026, when Real Madrid secured a 1-0 win.
The controversy erupted after Vinícius scored, sparking a confrontation in which the Brazilian forward claimed Prestianni called him a racist slur, specifically the word “mono” (Spanish for “monkey”), while covering his mouth with his shirt.
The referee applied UEFA’s anti-racism protocol, causing a pause of approximately 10 minutes to address the situation.
Vinícius initially hesitated to continue the match but eventually returned to play, later posting on social media that “racists are, above all, cowards.”
Prestianni could face additional sanctions, including a multi-match ban, depending on evidence gathered such as referee reports, match footage, witness statements, and player testimonies.
He has denied making a racial comment, asserting instead that he used a homophobic slur rather than a racial one.
Benfica has expressed public support for Prestianni, affirming confidence in his character as the club reportedly prepares to challenge or mitigate the UEFA sanction.
The case has reignited discussions about racism in football, particularly in light of Vinícius Júnior’s repeated experiences of abuse across Spain and Europe.
Prestianni’s suspension is a setback for Benfica’s attacking plans ahead of the crucial return leg, where Real Madrid holds a slim advantage.
