Key Takeaways
- Argentine winger Gianluca Prestianni banned for six UEFA matches after admitting homophobic insult.
- Incident halted Benfica v Real Madrid Champions League tie for ten minutes in February.
- Three games of the suspension are deferred for two years; FIFA asked to apply ban globally.
UEFA has ruled that Benfica wide-man Gianluca Prestianni shouted a homophobic remark at Real Madrid forward Vinicius Junior during their Champions League play-off in Lisbon.
The match was stopped for around ten minutes when Vinicius told referee François Letexier he had heard discriminatory language. Prestianni, 20, later accepted he used a slur but insisted it was not racist. Because the abuse was judged homophobic rather than racist, the mandatory minimum punishment dropped from ten matches to six.
Prestianni has already sat out one fixture under a provisional suspension. He will now miss two more European games immediately, while the remaining three are suspended for two years provided he commits no further offences. UEFA has asked FIFA to extend the sanction worldwide, which could affect his international hopes.
Real Madrid players briefly left the pitch in support of Vinicius, who posted online that “racists are cowards”. Benfica backed their player, calling reports a “defamation campaign”, yet coach José Mourinho warned that any proven abuse would end the Argentine’s career under him.
Football lawmakers are now examining ways to punish players who cover their mouths during confrontations, a move sparked by this case and backed by FIFA president Gianni Infantino.