Benfica’s Gianluca Prestianni has been provisionally suspended for one match following allegations of racist abuse reported by Real Madrid’s Vinicius Jr during last week’s Champions League clash.
As a result, the Argentine winger is expected to miss Wednesday’s second-leg match in Madrid (20:00 GMT).
UEFA has imposed the suspension pending a full investigation by an ethics and disciplinary inspector, with further sanctions possible once the inquiry concludes.
Vinicius informed referee Francois Letexier that Prestianni had racially abused him during the first leg in Lisbon. Prestianni has denied the allegations. Benfica announced they will appeal the decision, though they acknowledge it is unlikely to affect the match on Wednesday.
The first leg was briefly paused for 10 minutes after Vinicius reported the incident, with him and his teammates temporarily leaving the pitch. The stoppage followed a moment when Vinicius, 25, had scored a spectacular goal and received a yellow card for celebrating in front of Benfica supporters.
Benfica manager Jose Mourinho, who is also suspended for the second leg following his sending-off, faced criticism for his post-match comments, in which he suggested Vinicius celebrated disrespectfully. Mourinho will not attend media duties in Madrid, with assistant coach Joao Tralhao stepping in instead.
UEFA stated there was sufficient evidence to justify a “prima facie violation,” allowing the provisional ban while the investigation continues. They added that this does not preclude additional rulings once the investigation is complete.
Benfica expressed regret over losing Prestianni during the ongoing investigation and confirmed it will appeal, though deadlines mean it is unlikely to impact the second leg. The club reiterated its commitment to fighting racism and discrimination, citing its historical values, work through the Benfica Foundation, and notable figures such as Eusebio.
UEFA Acts Quickly
Calls for UEFA to respond to the shameful scenes in Lisbon were answered promptly. The governing body opened a disciplinary case against Prestianni just 16 hours after the incident, and three working days later he was provisionally banned. UEFA’s ethics and disciplinary inspector confirmed there is a “prima facie” case, meaning the initial evidence is sufficient to support a charge of using discriminatory language.
While imposing a ban before a full ruling may seem unusual, UEFA has precedent for acting swiftly. In 2021, Slavia Prague’s Ondrej Kudela was accused of racially abusing Rangers’ Glen Kamara during a Europa League tie at Ibrox. Like Prestianni, Kudela had covered his mouth before confronting the player. UEFA issued an interim one-match ban two days before Slavia Prague were due to face Arsenal, and eight days later, after the investigation concluded, Kudela received a 10-game suspension.
With the next match just a week away, UEFA acted quickly in Prestianni’s case, demonstrating consistency in taking decisive measures when evidence warrants it.
Benfica Responds
Benfica expressed regret at being deprived of Prestianni while the investigation continues and confirmed it will appeal, although deadlines mean the appeal is unlikely to impact the second leg. The club also reaffirmed its commitment to combating racism and discrimination, citing its historical values, work through the Benfica Foundation, and major figures in the club’s history, including Eusebio.
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