Benfica midfielder Gianluca Prestianni has been suspended for six matches after being found guilty of homophobic conduct towards Real Madrid forward Vinicius Junior. The sanction, announced by UEFA on Friday, includes a three-match suspended portion that will remain in effect for two years.
The ban incorporates the one-match provisional suspension Prestianni already served in February, meaning he will only miss two additional games unless the suspended term is activated. The incident occurred during the Champions League knockout play-off round match in Lisbon on February 17, when Vinicius Jr alleged he was racially abused.
UEFA appointed an ethics and disciplinary investigator following the match. The investigation concluded that Prestianni's conduct was homophobic rather than racist. UEFA stated it has requested that FIFA extend the suspension worldwide.
Reports from February indicated that Prestianni had informed UEFA he used a homophobic slur, not a racist one. Vinicius Jr left the pitch and refused to return after the comments, causing a 10-minute stoppage in play.
The incident may prompt a change in football's laws. The International Football Association Board (IFAB) is set to meet in Canada next week ahead of FIFA Congress to further discuss how players who cover their mouths during confrontations should be dealt with.
FIFA President Gianni Infantino suggested last month that such actions should result in a red card. Speaking to Sky News, he said: 'If a player covers his mouth and says something, and this has a racist consequence, then he has to be sent off, obviously. There must be a presumption that he has said something he shouldn’t have said, otherwise he wouldn’t have had to cover his mouth.'
Article 14 of UEFA's disciplinary regulations states that any person who insults the human dignity of another on grounds including skin colour, race, religion, ethnic origin, gender, or sexual orientation incurs a suspension of at least 10 matches or an appropriate alternative sanction.
UEFA has not published the reasoning of its Control, Ethics and Disciplinary Board (CEDB) in reaching the sanction against Prestianni.
