European football governing body, UEFA, has issued a six-match ban to Benfica youngster Gianluca Prestianni following an abuse-related incident involving Vinicius Junior during a UEFA Champions League play-off clash.
The incident reportedly occurred during Benfica’s encounter with Real Madrid in Lisbon, where tensions flared between players. Allegations surfaced after Vinicius Jr accused Prestianni of directing racist insults at him during the heated fixture.
However, in an official statement released by Benfica, the club confirmed that they had received formal communication from UEFA stating that Prestianni was handed a six-match suspension for the use of homophobic language during the match.
The Champions League play-off tie, which began in Lisbon, was overshadowed by multiple controversies, with the alleged verbal abuse incident drawing widespread attention and condemnation. UEFA had earlier taken immediate action by suspending Prestianni for the return leg at the iconic Santiago Bernabeu.
The governing body’s latest decision reinforces its zero-tolerance stance on all forms of discrimination, including racism and homophobia, in football.
