José Sena Goulão / Lusa
Prestiani with Vini Jr at Benfica vs. Real Madrid
Argentine football player Gianluca Prestianni, from Benfica, was suspended by UEFA for six games, three of which were suspended sentences, for homophobic insults in the meeting with Real Madrid. The initial accusation of racism was left out.
No evidence was found of acts of racism by Gianluca Prestianni; the footballer merely engaged in homophobic behavior, UEFA concluded.
After being accused by the Brazilian Vinicius Jr. to have called him ‘mono‘ (monkey, in Spanish), during the match against Real Madrid, in the first leg of the playoff for access to the round of 16 of the Champions League, the Argentine player had been preventively suspended for a game.
At the time, UEFA opened disciplinary proceedings for possible racist insults. However, in the final decision, there is no longer any mention to racist insults. The UEFA statement speaks of “discriminatory conduct (i.e. homophobic)” in the meeting with the ‘merengues’.
“The suspension relating to three of these games is subject to a suspended sentence of two years, starting from the date of this decision”, explains UEFA, which says that a punishment game was already served in the 2nd leg of the tie between the two teams.
Following the process, the Argentine footballer was suspended for 6 gamesthree of which with suspended sentence for two yearsand one already fulfilled. According to the television network, UEFA ended up accepting the Argentine defensewhich always denied any racist insult to the Brazilian.
At the time, Prestianni claimed that he had called Vinis Jr. just “faggot” (sissy), rejecting having used the expression “mono” — in reaction to provocations from the Brazilian player, who on several occasions called the Argentine “dwarf”.
Fernando Veiga Gomesa lawyer specializing in Sports Law interviewed by the newspaper, considers “serious” penalty imposed by UEFA to the Argentine player, and that the penalty applied “demonstrates that it was not possible to prove” of the initial accusations made by Vinícius Júnior”.
“What it was proven, homophobic insultshas a different interpretation in light of the regulations. It has to do with insults directed at other actors in the game. It is up to the disciplinary body to determine the seriousness of the infraction and the extent of the penalty”, explains Veiga Gomes.
According to the lawyer, “Benfica will also be able to exhaust the possibilities of appeal within UEFA and, if it understands, appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport in Lausanne”. Benfica however confirmed having been notified of the suspension, without mentioning any intention to appeal the punishment.
On February 17, in the ‘Champions’ round of 16 play-off, which Real Madrid won 1-0, Brazilian Vinícius Júnior, after scoring the only goal of the game, addressed the referee and racists.
The referee, the Frenchman François Letexierinterrupted the meeting at the time and activated the anti-racism protocolresuming the game almost 10 minutes later.
After the match, Prestianni denied any racist insult to Vinícius Júnior, while the Brazilian international and other Merengues players confirmed the offense on the part of the Argentine.
The 20-year-old Argentine ended up being preventively suspended for one game, while the investigation was taking place, and now two others remain to be played, which until can be at the service of Argentina in the 2026 World Cupif the winger is called up by the world champion team.
Otherwise, Prestianni will play the remaining 2 games next seasonplaying for Benfica in European competitions or for another club, if he moves, with UEFA asking for the punishment to be valid in all official competitions.
The incidents in the game against Real Madrid meant that Benfica had already been sentenced to partial closure of the stadium in the next European competition match at home, a punishment with a suspended sentence for one year, in addition to a fine of 40,000 euros, for racist behavior by fans.
