UEFA Suspends Benfica’s Prestianni Following Racism Allegations Against Vinícius Júnior

UEFA has temporarily barred Benfica midfielder Gialuca Prestianni from participating in the Champions League play-off second leg against Real Madrid after allegations that he racially abused Vinícius Júnior during the first-leg match.

The UEFA Control, Ethics and Disciplinary Body (CEDB) confirmed on Monday that the suspension follows a preliminary report from a UEFA Ethics and Disciplinary Inspector investigating the incident on February 17, 2026, in Lisbon.

The confrontation reportedly took place after Vinícius scored, when the Brazilian accused Prestianni of directing the term “mono” (Spanish for “monkey”) at him. The referee paused the match for around ten minutes under UEFA’s anti-racism protocol to address the incident.

Vinícius later resumed play and condemned racism on social media, describing those who engage in such behaviour as “cowards.”

Prestianni has denied using a racial slur, claiming he instead made a homophobic remark. Benfica has expressed confidence in its player and may challenge or seek to mitigate the suspension. UEFA has indicated that additional sanctions, including a multi-match ban, could follow depending on the findings.

The case has reignited debates on racism in European football, particularly as Vinícius has previously experienced similar abuse. Prestianni’s suspension impacts Benfica’s attacking strategy ahead of the return leg, with Real Madrid holding a slim advantage.