UEFA make Gianluca Prestianni decision hours before Real Madrid match | Football | Sport
Gianluca Prestianni has been accused of racially abusing Vini Jr (Image: Getty)
Gianluca Prestianni will NOT play in Benfica’s second-leg knockout stage Champions League clash with Real Madrid on Wednesday evening, as UEFA continues to investigate allegations of racism on the player’s part. Tensions flared during the reverse leg of the tie at the Estadio da Luz last week, when Vinicius Junior was booked for dancing in front of the home crowd after scoring in the second-half.
Prestianni was then spotted confronting the Brazilian over his celebrations, pulling his shirt over his face while speaking to him. Vini Jr then ran over to referee Francois Letexier stating that he had been racially abused by the Benfica player, with the official instantly stopping the match. The game was halted for around 10 minutes, as Vini Jr walked off the pitch before he was spotted speaking with As Aguias head coach Jose Mourinho.
After play resumed, Real Madrid ran out 1-0 winners courtesy of Vini Jr’s decisive finish, guaranteeing an advantage headed into the reverse leg of the tie at the Bernabeu come Wednesday evening. As a result of an investigation into allegations of racism, however, Prestianni has received a provisional one-game ban and will not be eligible for selection for the pivotal encounter.
A statement on the UEFA website reads: “AB decision regarding the provisional suspension of SL Benfica player Gianluca Prestianni. The UEFA Appeals Body has taken today the following decision: The appeal lodged by SL Benfica is dismissed. Consequently, the UEFA Control, Ethics and Disciplinary Body’s decision of 23 February 2026 is confirmed.”
It comes after UEFA made the decision to provisionally suspend Prestianni on Monday. A statement at the time read: “Following the appointment of a UEFA Ethics and Disciplinary Inspector (EDI) to investigate allegations of discriminatory behaviour during the UEFA Champions League 2025/2026 Knock-out Play-off match between SL Benfica and Real Madrid CF on 17 February 2026, and upon request of the EDI with an interim report, the UEFA Control, Ethics and Disciplinary Body (CEDB) today decided to provisionally suspend Mr. Gianluca Prestianni for the next (1) UEFA club competition match for which he would otherwise be eligible for the prima facie violation of Article 14 of the UEFA Disciplinary Regulations (DR) related to a discriminatory behaviour.
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Gianluca Prestianni will not play against Real Madrid (Image: Getty)
“This is without prejudice to any ruling that the UEFA disciplinary bodies may subsequently make following the conclusion of the ongoing investigation and its respective submission to the UEFA disciplinary bodies. Further information about this matter will be made available in due course.”
While Mourinho has refused to speak with the media following last week’s controversial post-match comments on the situation, Benfica president Rui Costa has since given his attention to matters. He said: “Benfica will stand by Prestianni. Not just because he’s our player.
“I repeat what I think is the most pertinent point in a situation like this: Prestianni is not racist; he is being condemned for racism when he is not racist.”
Prestianni has also denied racially abusing Vinicius Jr, saying: “I want to clarify that at no time did I direct racist insults to Vini Jr, who regrettably misunderstood what he thought he heard. I was never racist with anyone, and I regret the threats I received from Real Madrid players.”
Vini Jr, meanwhile, was quick to issue a statement of his own following his accusations toward Prestianni. He wrote: “Racists are, above all, cowards. They need to put their shirts in their mouths to show how weak they are.
“But they have the protection of others who, theoretically, have an obligation to punish them. Nothing that happened today is new in my life or in my team’s life. I received a yellow card for celebrating a goal. I still don’t understand why.
“On the other hand, it was just a poorly executed protocol that served no purpose. I don’t like to appear in situations like this, especially after a big win and when the headlines should be about Real Madrid, but it’s necessary.”
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