Benfica's 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 on 17 February. Three matches of the suspension are suspended for a two-year period, meaning Prestianni may only serve two further games after already serving a one-game provisional ban.
Uefa announced it would ask Fifa to extend the suspension to include international matches, which would see the Argentina international miss the first two games of the World Cup. The incident occurred during the knockout playoff round match in Lisbon, when Prestianni was seen addressing Vinícius while covering his mouth with his shirt.
Vinícius, who alleged racial abuse, temporarily left the field, causing a 10-minute stoppage. Uefa appointed an ethics and disciplinary investigator after the match. The investigation concluded Prestianni's conduct was homophobic rather than racist, an offence that typically carries a 10-match ban under Article 14 of Uefa's disciplinary regulations.
The Uefa control, ethics and disciplinary body has not yet published its reasons for the reduced punishment, but Prestianni is understood to have accepted his guilt. The incident is likely to prompt a rule change, with the International Football Association Board meeting in Canada next week to discuss how players covering their mouths during confrontations should be dealt with.
Fifa president Gianni Infantino said last month that any such behaviour should result in a red card, stating: 'If a player covers his mouth and says something, and this has a racist consequence, then he has to be sent off.'
