Benfica forward Gianluca Prestianni has been handed a six-match ban by Uefa for homophobic conduct towards Real Madrid's Vinícius Júnior during a Champions League match. The incident occurred during the knockout playoff round first leg in Lisbon on 17 February, when Prestianni was seen covering his mouth with his shirt while addressing the Brazilian player. Vinícius temporarily left the pitch, causing a 10-minute stoppage.
Uefa's investigation determined that Prestianni's comments were homophobic rather than racist. Under Article 14 of Uefa's disciplinary regulations, such offences typically carry a minimum 10-match suspension. However, the control, ethics and disciplinary body reduced the ban, with three matches suspended for a two-year period. Prestianni has already served a one-match provisional ban, meaning he may only miss two further European games if he avoids further misconduct.
Uefa announced it will ask Fifa to extend the suspension to include international matches, which could see the Argentina international miss the first two games of the World Cup. The Uefa body has yet to publish its full reasoning, but Prestianni is understood to have accepted his guilt, which may explain the reduced punishment.
The incident is expected to prompt a rule change. The International Football Association Board will meet in Canada next week to consider how players who cover their mouths during confrontations are dealt with. Fifa president Gianni Infantino has stated that such behaviour should result in a red card if it leads to racist or discriminatory remarks.
