Benfica's Gianluca Prestianni Faces UEFA Ban Over Alleged Racial Slur Against Vinicius Junior
A recent Champions League knockout play-off first leg between Real Madrid and Benfica in Lisbon was marred by serious allegations of racial abuse. Benfica's Argentine winger, Gianluca Prestianni, has been accused of directing a racial slur at Real Madrid forward Vinicius Junior during the match earlier this month.
Match Halted as Referee Implements Anti-Racism Protocol
The incident led to a significant ten-minute stoppage in play as the match official followed UEFA's formal anti-racism procedures. Despite heightened tensions and the potential for a walk-off, the game eventually resumed and was completed. UEFA has since taken swift action, issuing a one-match provisional suspension to Prestianni while an ethics and disciplinary inspector conducts a full investigation into the claims. Prestianni has publicly denied racially abusing Vinicius.
Conflicting Accounts Emerge Over Alleged Slurs
Real Madrid star Kylian Mbappe reportedly stated that he heard Prestianni call Vinicius a "monkey" five times during their on-field exchange. Vinicius himself alleged to the referee that this specific racist term was used, noting that Prestianni covered his mouth with his jersey at the time. However, according to ESPN sources, Prestianni admitted to using a homophobic slur towards Vinicius rather than a racist one. The player's agent has since denied this admission, adding to the confusion as UEFA reviews all player statements as part of its ongoing probe.
Background on the Accused Player and Upcoming Match
Gianluca Prestianni was born on January 31, 2006, in Ciudadela, located in the Greater Buenos Aires region of Argentina. Of Italian descent, he began his professional career at Velez Sarsfield before joining Benfica in 2024 for a transfer fee of £7.8 million. The decisive second leg of the Champions League knockout play-off is scheduled for Wednesday evening at Real Madrid's Santiago Bernabeu stadium, with the home side holding a 1-0 aggregate advantage. Benfica will be without manager Jose Mourinho due to his own suspension, and Prestianni is officially ruled out as he serves his provisional ban.
