UEFA has provisionally suspended Benfica midfielder Gianluca Prestianni from this week’s Champions League play-off second leg against Real Madrid CF following allegations that he racially abused Vinícius Júnior.
In a statement on Monday, UEFA said its Control, Ethics and Disciplinary Body (CEDB) imposed the temporary ban after receiving an interim report from an Ethics and Disciplinary Inspector investigating claims of discriminatory behaviour during the first-leg clash between SL Benfica and Real Madrid on February 17, 2026.
According to UEFA, Prestianni has been suspended for the next UEFA club competition match for which he would have been eligible, pending the outcome of the investigation into an alleged breach of Article 14 of the UEFA Disciplinary Regulations, which addresses discriminatory conduct. The governing body stressed that the provisional suspension does not preclude further sanctions once the investigation is concluded.
The controversy stems from last week’s first leg in Lisbon, which Real Madrid won 1-0. The incident occurred after Vinícius scored, sparking a heated exchange during which the Brazilian forward accused Prestianni of directing a racist remark at him. The referee activated UEFA’s anti-racism protocol, leading to a brief stoppage in play.
Vinícius later addressed the matter on social media, condemning racism and describing perpetrators as “cowards.”
Prestianni has denied making a racist comment, insisting he did not use a racial slur. Benfica have publicly expressed support for the player and are reportedly preparing a response as the disciplinary process continues.
The case has once again brought attention to the issue of racism in European football, particularly given Vinícius Júnior’s previous experiences of abuse. Prestianni’s suspension deals a setback to Benfica ahead of the decisive second leg, with Real Madrid holding a narrow aggregate advantage.