Benfica’s Gianluca Prestianni has been handed a six-game suspension for homophobic conduct towards Vinicius Junior during his side’s Champions League game against Real Madrid in February.
The Champions League play-off contest between Benfica and Madrid in February was halted for 10 minutes when the Brazilian accused Prestianni of racially abusing him while covering his mouth with his shirt moments after he put the visitors in the lead in Lisbon.
Vinicius Junior alerted referee Francois Letexier of the incident, claiming that the 20-year-old had called him a ‘monkey’. His team-mate, Kylian Mbappe, who was in close vicinity of the exchange, corroborated his claim.
Prestianni was handed a provisional one-match ban by UEFA for the reverse fixture.
A UEFA investigation has concluded it has suspended the 20-year-old Argentina international for six games, of which must be carried out in European competitions or with the national team ‘for discriminatory (i.e. homophobic conduct)’.
The Champions League play-off contest between Benfica and Madrid in February was halted for 10 minutes when the Vinicius Junior accused Prestianni of racially abusing him
Three of these matches is subject to ‘a probationary period of two years’ from Friday’s announcement, and includes the one-matach provisional suspension already served by Prestianni. UEFA have also requested FIFA to ‘extend worldwide’ the suspension.
In the days that followed the incident, Madrid star Aurelien Tchouameni told the media that the Benfica midfielder claimed he did not aim a racist slur at Vinicius Jr, but made a homophobic remark instead.
Prestianni later said he was disappointed by UEFA for banning him for a game ‘without proof’.
He told Telefe earlier this month: ‘I have never been racist, and I never will be. What hurt me the most was to be accused of something I never did.
‘It was something I didn’t say, and they punished me without proof.’
