UEFA has suspended Benfica midfielder Gianluca Prestianni from the Champions League play-off second leg against Real Madrid this week over allegations that he racially abused Vinícius Júnior.
The European football body said it is still investigating the incident from last week’s first leg but decided to provisionally bar Prestianni from the next UEFA club competition match.
“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.
“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,” UEFA added.
The suspension comes after the first-leg match on February 17, 2026, in Lisbon, where Real Madrid won 1-0.
The controversy erupted after Vinícius scored, leading to a heated moment when he accused Prestianni of calling him “mono” (Spanish for “monkey”) while covering his mouth with his shirt.
The referee activated UEFA’s anti-racism protocol, stopping the game for about 10 minutes to handle the situation on the pitch.
Vinícius looked hesitant to continue at first but eventually returned to play. He later wrote on social media: “racists are, above all, cowards.”
Prestianni could face more penalties, including a longer ban, depending on evidence such as referee reports, match footage, witness statements, and player testimonies.
He denies using a racial slur, saying he made a homophobic remark in Spanish instead.
Benfica has stood by the player, defending his character and preparing arguments to reduce or challenge any punishment.
The case has reignited discussions about racism in football, especially since Vinícius Júnior has faced similar abuse in Spain and Europe before.
Prestianni’s suspension is a major setback for Benfica’s attack ahead of the second leg, where Real Madrid holds a slim lead.
