GENEVA (AP) — FIFA confirmed a global ban on Wednesday. Gianluca Prestiani That will make Benfica’s winger the dominant of the two. world cup If he is selected for the Argentina national team, he will play in games in the United States.
Two weeks ago, UEFA handed Prestianni a six-game suspension, with three suspended. his abusive language Real Madrid’s Brazilian forward Vinicius Junior’s performance in the Champions League. Prestiani covered his mouth with his jersey while using insulting language.
FIFA has now, as expected, complied with UEFA’s request to extend the ban beyond European competition to the World Cup, which starts next month.
“The FIFA Disciplinary Committee has decided to extend globally the six-match suspension imposed by UEFA on Benfica’s Gianluca Prestiani,” the soccer body said in a statement.
It is unclear whether Prestiani is still part of Argentina coach Lionel Scaloni’s plans to defend their World Cup title. Argentina will play Algeria in Kansas City on June 17, then face Austria five days later in Arlington, Texas. This group also includes Jordan, who is making his first World Cup appearance.
The 20-year-old winger made his first and only appearance for Argentina in a friendly in November. He did not feature in Argentina’s most recent match, a World Cup pre-game against Zambia on March 31.
Scaloni did not mention the ongoing UEFA investigation when he called Prestiani in for warm-ups in March. Scaloni said the Benfica player is needed as Paulo Dybala is unavailable.
UEFA, with support from Madrid teammate Kylian Mbappe, was investigating Prestiani over allegations that Vinicius had used a racist insult. They claimed that Prestiani means “monkey” in Spanish and that he disguised it by raising his red jersey and covering his mouth.
Benfica’s Gianluca Prestianni fights for the ball with Real Madrid’s Vinicius Junior during the Champions League playoff soccer match between SL Benfica and Real Madrid on Tuesday, February 17, 2026 in Lisbon, Portugal. (AP Photo/Pedro Rocha, File)
Prestiani admitted using a homophobic slur, but UEFA could not prove the racial insult Prestiani denied.
Prestiani had already served the first match of his suspension when UEFA banned him from playing against Madrid in the second leg of the Champions League knockout stage in February.
Last week, FIFA pushed to make it happen. Red card violation against a World Cup player The requirement to cover one’s mouth when insulting an opponent was passed by football’s rules-making committee, known as IFAB.
If Prestianni is not selected for Argentina’s national team, the remainder of his suspension will be served in next season’s UEFA European competition.
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