UEFA has announced the provisional suspension of Benfica player Gianluca Prestianni following allegations of racist behavior towards Vinicius Jr. during a Champions League match. This decision comes as the governing body of European football investigates an incident that occurred on February 17, 2026, during the first leg of the playoff match between SL Benfica and Real Madrid.
The incident occurred when Vinicius Jr. accused Prestianni of racially abusing him. It is reported that Kylian Mbappé allegedly heard Prestianni call Vinicius a "monkey" several times. The match was halted for about 10 minutes after Vinicius reported the incident to the referee, who triggered the anti-racism protocol. Prestianni, meanwhile, denies the allegations, claiming that Vinicius misinterpreted his words.
As a result of this provisional suspension, Prestianni will not be able to participate in the return match scheduled for Wednesday, February 24, at the Bernabeu. UEFA has stated that this measure is taken "without prejudice to any ruling that the UEFA disciplinary bodies may subsequently make following the conclusion of the ongoing investigation". If Prestianni is found guilty, he could face a suspension of at least 10 matches.
Benfica has reacted by announcing its intention to appeal this suspension, while acknowledging that it is unlikely to have an impact on his participation in the return match. The club has also denounced what it considers to be a "defamation campaign" against its player.
UEFA's investigation is ongoing, and the outcome of this case could have significant consequences for Prestianni and for the fight against racism in European football. The immediate suspension of Prestianni sends a strong signal regarding UEFA's determination to treat allegations of discrimination seriously.
