Football Apr 29, 2026

Gianluca Prestianni: Benfica winger handed six-match ban for discriminatory conduct towards Real Madrid's Vinicius Junior

👤
By Admin
Sports Journalist
Gianluca Prestianni: Benfica winger handed six-match ban for discriminatory conduct towards Real Madrid's Vinicius Junior

Gianluca Prestianni has been given a six-match ban by UEFA for discriminatory conduct towards Vinicius Junior.

Real Madrid's forward accused Prestianni of racially abusing him in February's Champions League tie. UEFA's statement indicated the punishment was for homophobic abuse.

Three of those six matches are suspended for a two-year period and the ban also includes the one match Prestianni served as a provisional suspension in February.

Therefore, unless he triggers the suspended three-match ban, he will only actually be sidelined for two further games.

UEFA appointed an ethics and disciplinary investigator after the match, with the investigation having concluded Prestianni's conduct was homophobic rather than racist.

UEFA said it had requested that FIFA extend the ban worldwide.

It was reported in February that Prestianni had told UEFA he had used a homophobic slur rather than a racist one.

Vinicius left the field and refused to return after Prestianni's comments, resulting in a stoppage in play that lasted 10 minutes.

The incident could yet spark a law change, with the International Football Association Board (IFAB) set to meet in Canada next week ahead of FIFA Congress to further consider how players are dealt with if they cover their mouths to talk to an opponent in a confrontation.

FIFA president Gianni Infantino said last month that a red card should result, 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, 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."

Tags:

football news

Share this article

Related Posts

Frank Lampard has proved the doubters wrong again in masterminding Coventry rise with club promoted to the Premier League

Frank Lampard has proved the doubters wrong again in masterminding Coventry rise with club promoted to the Premier League

Frank Lampard has been proving doubters wrong for a very long time.The West Ham fans' forum back in 1996 is now etched firmly into football folklore.H...

Hugo Ekitike injury: Liverpool striker suffers 'serious' ruptured Achilles and will miss rest of season and World Cup

Hugo Ekitike injury: Liverpool striker suffers 'serious' ruptured Achilles and will miss rest of season and World Cup

Liverpool have confirmed that striker Hugo Ekitike has sustained a "serious" Achilles injury and will miss the rest of the season and the World Cup wi...

World Football Giving Day to launch on May 26: 'Football can mirror the world or shape it,' says Common Goal CEO

World Football Giving Day to launch on May 26: 'Football can mirror the world or shape it,' says Common Goal CEO

For the first time, on May 26, the global game will come together in one shared moment to give back with the launch of .The initiative is backed by ov...

Liverpool: Arne Slot complains about missed chances, injuries and VAR after Champions League exit to PSG - is he right?

Liverpool: Arne Slot complains about missed chances, injuries and VAR after Champions League exit to PSG - is he right?

We take a look at Arne Slot's post-match news conference after Liverpool's Champions League exit to Paris St-Germain to see how the Dutchman's reasoni...

Harry Maguire: Man Utd defender suspended for trip to Chelsea as additional one-game ban issued for improper conduct

Harry Maguire: Man Utd defender suspended for trip to Chelsea as additional one-game ban issued for improper conduct

Harry Maguire will miss Manchester United's trip to Chelsea after being handed an additional one-match ban for improper conduct.An independent regulat...

Bournemouth: Kieran McKenna on shortlist but Marco Rose believed to be frontrunner to replace Andoni Iraola

Bournemouth: Kieran McKenna on shortlist but Marco Rose believed to be frontrunner to replace Andoni Iraola

Marco Rose is believed to be the frontrunner for the Bournemouth job.Your Site News understands the club have a shortlist of three potential successor...