Gianluca Prestianni, the Argentinian winger for SL Benfica, has been handed a six-match suspension, with three matches suspended, by the UEFA disciplinary chamber. The sanction follows an incident during the Champions League qualifying match between Real Madrid and Benfica on February 17th. Prestianni was ultimately found guilty of "homophobic conduct," a distinction from the initial accusations of racist remarks.
The suspension, officially confirmed on Friday, April 24th, 2026, includes one match already served. The suspended portion of the ban carries a two-year probationary period, meaning any further discriminatory offense within that timeframe would trigger the immediate application of the remaining three matches.
UEFA's Decision Shifts Focus
The disciplinary body’s ruling pivots from the initial allegations of racism, where Vinícius Júnior of Real Madrid claimed Prestianni called him a "monkey." Instead, UEFA's statement points to "homophobic conduct" as the basis for the sanction. This reframing aligns with Prestianni's defense, which, according to reports citing ESPN, suggested he made a homophobic slur in Spanish rather than a racist one. Prestianni himself had previously refuted the racism accusations on Instagram, stating Vinícius Júnior had "unfortunately misinterpreted what he thought he heard."
Read More: Benfica Player Prestianni Gets 6-Match Ban For Homophobic Conduct
The incident occurred during the first leg of the Champions League qualifiers. The controversy quickly escalated beyond the pitch, sparking renewed discussions about discrimination within European football and the safety of players. Kylian Mbappé, at the time, had commented that Prestianni did not "deserve to play in the Champions League."
Background on Prestianni and the Incident
Gianluca Prestianni, born in Ciudadela, Argentina, began his professional career at Vélez Sarsfield before transferring to SL Benfica. He represents Argentina at the Under-17 level. The 20-year-old winger's suspension has been anticipated for weeks, as he himself acknowledged a significant ban was looming. The UEFA communiqué explicitly states the player is suspended for "conduct discriminatory (i.e. homophobic)".
