UEFA Suspends Benfica’s Gianluca Prestianni Pending Racism Investigation in Champions League Match
UEFA has provisionally suspended Benfica winger Gianluca Prestianni for one match following allegations of racial abuse directed towards Real Madrid’s Vinícius Júnior during their Champions League play-off first leg. The suspension means Prestianni will miss Wednesday’s second leg in Madrid, where Real Madrid currently hold a 1-0 lead.
Incident Details
The incident occurred after Vinícius Júnior scored the winning goal in Lisbon last week. The Brazilian winger reported to referee François Letexier that Prestianni had racially abused him, claiming the Argentine player referred to him using a racial slur. The match was paused for approximately 11 minutes as officials activated FIFA’s anti-racism protocols. Despite the pause, Prestianni remained on the field for the remainder of the game, during which Vinícius Júnior was subjected to continued booing and jeering from the crowd.
Conflicting Accounts
Prestianni has denied using racist language, claiming he was misheard while uttering a homophobic slur. Though, Vinícius Júnior’s teammate, Kylian Mbappé, stated he clearly heard the offensive words, asserting that Prestianni did not deserve to play in the second leg at the Santiago Bernabéu. Benfica manager José Mourinho blamed Vinícius Júnior’s exuberant goal celebration for “inciting” Benfica’s players.
UEFA Investigation and Appeal
UEFA has opened a formal investigation into the alleged offence, which carries a minimum suspension of 10 matches if proven. The ethics and disciplinary inspector requested the provisional suspension, citing a “prima facie violation” of Article 14 of UEFA’s Disciplinary Regulations, which prohibits insults based on characteristics like skin color or race. SI.com
Benfica has announced its intention to appeal the suspension, but acknowledges the tight timeframe makes it unlikely Prestianni will be available for the second leg. The Modern York Times
Previous Incidents and Context
This incident is part of a larger pattern of racist abuse directed towards Vinícius Júnior. According to La Liga, there have been 26 reported incidents of racist abuse against him since October 2021. The New York Times
The Independent and The Associated Press as well reported on the suspension and ongoing investigation.