UEFA imposes six-match suspension on Benfica's Gianluca Prestianni for discriminatory conduct
The governing body has determined the behaviour constituted homophobic abuse, though the player denies using a racist slur
The Union of European Football Associations has sanctioned Benfica midfielder Gianluca Prestianni with a six-match suspension following an incident of discriminatory conduct deemed homophobic. The disciplinary decision arises from comments attributed to Prestianni during the Champions League playoff first-leg match against Real Madrid in February, a game that ended with a 1-0 victory for the Spanish side.
While television footage captured Prestianni covering his mouth with his shirt before making remarks interpreted as a racial slur, the governing body has ruled against the player's defence. Prestianni, an Argentinian winger, maintained that Real Madrid forward Vinicius Jr misheard his comments and that he did not utilise a racist term. However, UEFA concluded that the nature of the remarks constituted homophobic abuse rather than a racial slur.
The specific terms of the sanction include a one-match provisional suspension that Prestianni has already served. This is followed by an additional three-match ban which is subject to a two-year probationary period commencing from the date of the decision. The governing body confirmed that the remaining matches must be served in UEFA competitions or within a FIFA context involving the Argentina national team.
Real Madrid teammate Aurelien Tchouameni provided a conflicting account regarding the interaction, stating that Prestianni directed a homophobic comment at him rather than the slur alleged against Vinicius. Despite this testimony, UEFA proceeded with the determination that the conduct was discriminatory, citing the interpretation of the comments by the victim and nearby teammates during the match disruption.
The incident occurred shortly after Vinicius scored the opening goal, leading to an 11-minute suspension of play. Benfica confirmed they had been notified of the sanction and clarified the application of the ban across different competition contexts. Prestianni has represented Argentina only once as a late substitute in a friendly against Angola in November, making the potential global extension of the ban significant for his international eligibility.
UEFA has indicated that it plans to request FIFA to extend the suspension worldwide to ensure consistency across international fixtures. This move would effectively bar Prestianni from participating in Argentina national team matches should FIFA approve the extension, thereby addressing the cross-border nature of the disciplinary breach.
