UEFA hands Prestianni provisional ban over incident with Vinícius | OneFootball

UEFA’s Control, Ethics and Disciplinary Body has imposed a provisional one-match suspension on Benfica’s Gianluca Prestianni under article 14, which covers discriminatory behaviour, ruling him out of Wednesday’s Champions League round-of-32 second leg at Real Madrid.

The incident followed Vinícius’s goal and celebration, when the Argentine approached him with his mouth covered. Vinícius reported a racist insult to the referee, the protocol was triggered and play paused for 10 minutes before Madrid resumed. UEFA said the step is preventive and does not prejudice any later decision, and that more information will follow.

Kylian Mbappé later alleged the slur was repeated five times. UEFA’s inspector is reviewing the delegate’s reports and has taken statements from Prestianni and Vinícius Júnior, plus testimony from Mbappé and Eduardo Camavinga.

If a racist insult is proven, Prestianni faces heavy punishment. Article 14 provides for a minimum 10-match ban or a set period, or other appropriate sanctions, for insulting human dignity on grounds including skin colour, race, religion, origin, gender or sexual orientation. Prestianni is said to have told the inquiry his insult was homophobic rather than racist, contrary to Madrid players’ claims.

Benfica have been informed of the one-match provisional suspension and will appeal, while accepting the timings are unlikely to affect the second leg. The club also reiterated its commitment to combating racism and discrimination across its global community work, including through the Benfica Foundation and historic figures such as Eusebio.

Source: El Periódico Mediterráneo