UEFA has announced that it has completed its investigation into the February Champions League clash between Benfica star Gianluca Prestiani and Real Madrid star Vinicius Junior.
Vinicius Jr. accuses Gianluca Prestiani of racist remarks (Image: Getty Images)
UEFA has suspended Benfica winger Gianluca Prestiani for six games for allegedly racially abusing Real Madrid forward Vinicius Junior.
The incident took place during the first leg of the Champions League play-off between the two teams in Lisbon on February 17. Vinicius Jr. claimed that Prestianni directed racial insults at him after he scored the opening goal.
UEFA launched an investigation and subsequently accused the player of homophobic behavior. The player was given a two-match ban, having already been suspended for the second leg, and a further three matches will be suspended for two years.
UEFA said in a statement: “Following an investigation by the UEFA Ethics and Discipline Inspector, disciplinary proceedings have been initiated against SL Benfica’s Gianluca Prestianni on suspicion of potentially discriminatory conduct.”
“The UEFA Administrative, Ethics and Disciplinary Body (CEDB) has taken the following decision: Gianluca Prestianni of SL Benfica is suspended for a total of six competitive matches for UEFA clubs and/or national teams for which he would otherwise be eligible for discriminatory (homophobic) conduct.”
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“The suspension for three of these games will be subject to a two-year probationary period from the date of this decision.
“This decision (i.e. a six-match suspension) includes the one-match provisional suspension that the player received during the UEFA Champions League 2025/26 Finals Play-Off match between Real Madrid CF and SL Benfica on 25 February 2026.
“We request FIFA to extend the above suspension to the entire world.”
Vinicius Junior claims he was racially abused by referee Francois Letexier (Image: AP)
Vinicius Jr. and his Real Madrid teammates left the pitch following the accusations, and the match was suspended for 10 minutes before being restarted. Prestiani, Benfica and their manager Jose Mourinho strongly denied the claims throughout the investigation and were furious that he was suspended for the return match in Madrid the following week.
The Portuguese club claimed there was a “defamation campaign” against the Argentine player. Immediately after the incident, they said: “Given the distance, there is no way that the Real Madrid players did not hear what they claim to have heard.”
“Prestiani’s actions in the service of the club have always been guided by respect for the opponents, the organization and the principles that define Benfica’s identity,” Benfica added.
“The club deplores the defamation campaign in which the player has been the victim.”
Gianluca Prestiani has been suspended by UEFA (Image: (Joao Bravo/Sports Press Photo/Getty Images))
“Racists are cowards above all else,” Vinicius Jr. said on social media after the game.
ESPN reported that Prestiani told the disciplinary committee that he had actually used the anti-gay slur, but that Vinicius Jr. misheard it as a racist slur.
However, in public he denied all charges and said he was being punished without evidence. Speaking in April, he claimed that he had been “punished without any evidence for things I didn’t say.”
Real Madrid also won the second leg 2-1 at the Bernabéu, with Vinicius Junior scoring an important goal to give the Spaniards a 3-1 victory on aggregate.
