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. Three matches of the suspension have been suspended for a two-year period, meaning Prestianni may serve only two additional games after a one-game provisional ban already served.
The incident occurred during the knockout playoff round in Lisbon on 17 February. Vinícius alleged racial abuse after Prestianni addressed him while covering his mouth with his shirt. The Brazilian briefly left the pitch, causing a 10-minute stoppage. Uefa appointed an ethics and disciplinary investigator following the match.
The investigation concluded that Prestianni's conduct was homophobic rather than racist. Under Article 14 of Uefa's disciplinary regulations, such offences typically carry a minimum 10-match ban. The Uefa control, ethics and disciplinary body has not yet published its reasoning for the reduced punishment, but Prestianni is understood to have accepted his guilt.
Uefa has announced it will 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 is also expected to prompt a rule change, with the International Football Association Board meeting in Canada next week to discuss penalising players who cover their mouths when speaking to opponents.
Fifa president Gianni Infantino previously stated that such behaviour should result in a red card if it has racist consequences, telling Sky News: 'If a player covers his mouth and says something, and this has a racist consequence, then he has to be sent off.'
