UEFA Bans Benfica’s Prestianni Over Homophobic Abuse of Vinicius

Prestianni handed six-game ban, three suspended, for discriminatory conduct

UEFA banned Benfica winger Gianluca Prestianni for six games over “homophobic insults” directed at Vinicius Junior during a Champions League play-off in Lisbon.

UEFA cited “homophobic insults” as it handed Benfica’s Gianluca Prestianni a six-game ban for calling Vinicius Junior “maricón” during the UCL play-off first leg...

Benfica’s 20-year-old Argentine winger Gianluca Prestianni received a six-match ban from UEFA on Friday over alleged racist insults toward Real Madrid’s Brazilian forward Vinicius Junior during a Champions League play-off match in Lisbon.

UEFA said Prestianni’s six-game suspension was imposed for “discriminatory conduct” in the match against Real Madrid.

The organisation’s statement said the case involved “homophobic insults” from Prestianni, who allegedly called Vinicius Junior a “maricln” - a homophobic slur in Spanish.

UEFA said the ban must be served in European competitions or while playing for the Argentine national team.

“The suspension for three of these games is subject to a two-year probation period, starting from the date of this decision,” UEFA added, noting that one match of the ban has already been served in the second leg of the play-off between Benfica and Real Madrid at the Santiago Bernabeu.

On February 17, during the first leg of the Champions League play-off for a round-of-16 spot that Real Madrid won 1-0, Vinicius Junior scored the match’s only goal and then went to the referee to report that Prestianni had made racist remarks toward him.

French referee Francois Letexier halted the game at Estadio da Luz in Lisbon and triggered the anti-racism protocol, with play restarting after a delay of almost 10 minutes.

After the match, Prestianni denied directing any racist insults at Vinicius, but the Brazilian forward and several other Real Madrid players said the Argentine had committed the offence.

UEFA issued Prestianni a provisional one-match suspension during its investigation. Though ineligible to play, he traveled with Benfica to Madrid the following week, where the team lost 2-1 and exited the Champions League.

With Benfica already out of European competition, Prestianni will serve the remaining two games of his ban with the Argentina national team if he is selected for the 2026 World Cup.

🚨 OFFICIAL: Gianluca Prestianni has been given a 6 games ban by UEFA, partly suspensional for ‘homophobic insults’. pic.twitter.com/v26DWEtEDI

— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) April 24, 2026

Benfica issued the following statement: “Benfica announce that they have been notified by UEFA of the sanction imposed on player Prestianni for the use of homophobic language during the Benfica-Real Madrid match.

“Prestianni has been suspended for six matches, with three of those suspended for a period of two years. Of the three matches he must serve, one has already been completed, and the remaining two must be served in UEFA matches or with the Argentina national team in FIFA competitions.“