UEFA bans Prestianni for homophobic conduct towards Vini Jr in Champions League | OneFootball

UEFA confirmed that Benfica forward Gianluca Prestianni has been banned for six matches for discriminatory language directed at Vini Jr, following his admission of homophobic conduct.

Three matches are suspended for two years, one has already been served, and two must be completed in UEFA games or with Argentina in FIFA competition.

UEFA’s disciplinary committee also recommended applying the sanction worldwide, a step that would require FIFA validation to bar his participation in official competitions.

The case stems from 17 February, when Real Madrid beat Benfica in the Champions League in Lisbon, a match halted after Vinicius Jr reported a racist insult.

The incident came early in the second half after the Brazilian scored, sparking a confrontation with Prestianni. Referee Benoît Bastien activated the anti-racism protocol and stopped play for ten minutes.

During the process, Prestianni admitted saying "maricón" but denied using "mono", as alleged by Vinicius Jr. The homophobic admission underpinned UEFA’s finding of discriminatory conduct.

Source: Coluna Do Fla