Gianluca Prestianni has received a six-game ban, with three of those matches suspended and one of them already served, for “homophobic conduct” after Real Madrid’s Vinicius Jr said he was racially abused by the Benfica and Argentina player during a Champions League match in February.
The ruling follows an investigation into “discriminatory behaviour” by Uefa after Vinicius Jr alleged Prestianni had made a racist slur towards him. Prestianni denied the charge of using racist language and is said to have claimed that he had instead used an “anti-gay” slur.
Prestianni was provisionally suspended from the return leg of the Champions League play-off between the teams two months ago, so he will only be sidelined for two further matches unless he commits another offence during a two-year probationary period.
Uefa’s ruling on Friday confirmed the following:
- To suspend SL Benfica player Gianluca Prestianni for a total of six Uefa club and/or representative national team official matches for which he would otherwise be eligible, for discriminatory [ie homophobic] conduct. The suspension for three of these matches is subject to a probationary period of two years
- This decision [ie 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
Uefa’s ruling means that Prestianni’s punishment would apply to matches at this summer’s World Cup, but only if the 20-year-old winger is called up by Argentina and Fifa extends the ban worldwide. Otherwise, it would be served in next season’s Uefa competitions.
Article 14 of Uefa’s disciplinary regulations states that “any person who insults the human dignity of a person” on grounds including “skin colour, race, religion, ethnic origin, gender or sexual orientation” incurs a suspension lasting at least 10 matches, or “a specified period of time”. Uefa has yet to publish its written reasons.
Benfica’s Champions League play-off first leg against Real Madrid in Lisbon was halted for 11 minutes under Uefa’s three-step anti-racism protocol. Prestianni covered his mouth with his shirt when speaking to Vinicius Jr, with the Brazil international immediately reporting racist language to the referee Francois Letexier.
Prestianni denied the accusation and said Vinicius Jr misheard him. After the game, several of Vinicius Jr’s Real Madrid teammates, including Kylian Mbappe, said they heard Prestianni call Vinicius Jr a “monkey”, but midfielder Aurelien Tchouameni said Prestianni admitted to him that he instead directed a homophobic comment towards Vinicius Jr.
With Prestianni provisionally suspended from the second leg in Madrid, Uefa appointed an ethics and disciplinary investigator. After two months, that investigation has concluded Prestianni’s conduct was homophobic rather than racist.
In the future, players who cover their mouths during a confrontation with an opponent could be sent off. The issue will be examined by the International Football Association Board (Ifab) while Fifa president Gianni Infantino told Sky News: “There must be a presumption that he has said something he shouldn’t have said, otherwise he wouldn’t have had to cover his mouth.”
Prestianni has made one appearance for Argentina, making his debut as a late substitute in a friendly match against Angola in November.
