Gianluca Prestianni Suspended by UEFA for Alleged Racial Abuse of Vinicius Junior

UEFA has provisionally suspended Benfica winger Gianluca Prestianni for Wednesday’s Champions League knockout playoff second leg against Real Madrid following allegations that he racially abused Real Madrid forward Vinicius Junior during last week’s first leg on February 17, 2026.

Incident Details and Match Information

The UEFA Control, Ethics and Disciplinary Body announced the decision on February 23, confirming a provisional one-match suspension pending completion of a full investigation. The suspension comes after Vinicius Junior reported alleged racist abuse to referee François Letexier during the 1-0 Madrid victory in Lisbon, which triggered FIFA’s anti-racism protocol and halted the match for approximately 10 minutes.

UEFA Investigation and Disciplinary Details

The Alleged Incident

The incident occurred in the 50th minute immediately after Vinicius Junior scored the opening goal. Celebrating enthusiastically at the corner flag in front of Benfica supporters, Vinicius displayed emotional exuberance that infuriated Benfica fans, who threw bottles and objects toward Madrid players.

Prestianni confronted Vinicius and covered his mouth with his jersey while saying something to the Brazilian forward. Vinicius immediately ran to referee François Letexier, reporting that he had been racially abused. Letexier responded by crossing his arms—the FIFA anti-racism protocol gesture—and halted play for approximately 10 minutes while the incident was documented.

Conflicting Accounts

Prestianni has vehemently denied making racist comments, stating on Instagram: “I want to clarify that at no time did I direct racist insults to Vini Jr, who regrettably misunderstood what he thought he heard. I was never racist with anyone.”

However, according to ESPN sources, Prestianni admitted to UEFA that he called Vinicius an anti-gay slur in Spanish (“m——“) rather than a racist insult. Real Madrid’s Kylian Mbappé contradicted this account, claiming he heard Prestianni use the word “mono” (monkey) five times. Real Madrid defender Trent Alexander-Arnold called the incident “a disgrace to football.”

Benfica’s Response and Mourinho Controversy

Benfica has adamantly supported Prestianni, claiming he has been subjected to a “defamation campaign.” The club released statements emphasizing their commitment to equality and respect, noting that Prestiário’s conduct while serving Benfica has always been guided by respect.

Manager José Mourinho faced substantial criticism for his response to the incident. During post-match comments, Mourinho appeared to justify Prestianni’s behavior by questioning Vinicius’ celebration style: “When you score a goal like that you just celebrate and walk back.”

Potential Penalties and Investigation Conclusions

If UEFA concludes that Prestianni engaged in racial abuse or discriminatory behavior, Article 14 of UEFA’s disciplinary regulations mandates a minimum 10-match suspension. The provisional one-match suspension is merely precautionary while the full investigation concludes.

The investigation involves detailed examination of match footage, witness statements from both teams, and statements from Prestianni himself. Benfica has indicated they will appeal the provisional suspension, though the short timeframe means the appeal is unlikely to affect Wednesday’s second leg.

Real Madrid’s Position and Broader Implications

Real Madrid has submitted comprehensive evidence to UEFA including footage, player statements, and additional documentation supporting Vinicius’ allegations. The club has emphasized their commitment to eradicating racism from football.

Kick It Out, the anti-racism organization in English football, released statements criticizing Mourinho’s response, accusing him of “gaslighting” by questioning Vinicius’ celebration rather than condemning the alleged abuse.

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