UEFA Suspends Benfica’s Gianluca Prestianni Following Allegations of Racism Against Vinicius Jr.

Benfica winger Gianluca Prestianni has been provisionally suspended by UEFA for one match following allegations of racially abusing Real Madrid forward Vinicius Jr. During their Champions League play-off first leg match in Lisbon last week. The suspension means Prestianni will miss the second leg in Madrid on Wednesday, where Real Madrid currently hold a 1-0 lead.

Incident and Investigation

The incident occurred after Vinicius Jr. Scored in the second half of the match on February 13, 2026. Vinicius Jr. Alleged that Prestianni made a racist remark, prompting the referee, François Letexier, to pause the game for approximately eight minutes and initiate FIFA’s racial abuse protocol [Source: The New York Times].

UEFA confirmed it would open an investigation into the alleged offence, which carries a minimum suspension of 10 games if proven [Source: The New York Times]. The appointed ethics and disciplinary inspector requested the provisional suspension on Monday, February 23, 2026 [Source: The New York Times].

Benfica’s Response

Benfica has announced its intention to appeal the one-match suspension, but acknowledges that the timeline makes it unlikely Prestianni will be available for the second leg [Source: The New York Times]. The club has expressed regret over being without the player during the disciplinary process and reiterated its “unshakable commitment to combating any form of racism or discrimination” [Source: The Independent].

Conflicting Accounts

Prestianni has denied racially abusing Vinicius Jr., claiming he was misheard while using a homophobic slur [Source: The Independent]. However, Vinicius Jr.’s teammate, Kylian Mbappe, stated he heard Prestianni use offensive language, specifically alleging the use of the word “monkey” [Source: The Independent].

UEFA’s Stance

UEFA has provisionally suspended Prestianni based on a “prima facie violation” of Article 14 of its Disciplinary Regulations, which addresses insults to human dignity based on characteristics like skin color or race [Source: Sports Illustrated]. This means UEFA believes there is sufficient evidence to seize action while a full investigation is underway [Source: Sports Illustrated].

Looking Ahead

The second leg between Real Madrid and Benfica will proceed without Prestianni. The outcome of UEFA’s full investigation will determine any further disciplinary action against the player. This incident underscores the ongoing issue of racism in football and the commitment of governing bodies like UEFA to address it [Source: Euronews].