UEFA bans Benfica’s Gianluca Prestianni for six matches over anti-gay conduct toward Vinícius Júnior

UEFA has handed Benfica’s Gianluca Prestianni a six-match ban for anti-gay conduct toward Real Madrid’s Vinícius Júnior during their Champions League match in February. The ruling confirms the sanction following an investigation into discriminatory behavior after Vinícius Júnior alleged he was subjected to a slur by the Argentine winger.

The six-match suspension includes the one-match provisional suspension Prestianni served during the return leg of the Champions League play-off between Benfica and Real Madrid on February 25, 2026. He will be sidelined for two further matches unless he commits another offense during a two-year probationary period, under which three of the six matches are suspended.

UEFA’s decision, announced on Friday, April 24, 2026, confirms the suspension applies to UEFA club and/or representative national team official matches. The governing body has also requested FIFA to extend the ban worldwide, which would make it applicable to matches at this summer’s World Cup if Prestianni is called up by Argentina and FIFA extends the sanction.

Prestianni denied using racist language and stated he instead used an “anti-gay” slur, according to reports from the investigation. The ban stems from UEFA’s ruling on discriminatory conduct, specifically homophobic behavior, after Vinícius Júnior reported the incident during the February match.

The suspension means Prestianni will miss upcoming Benfica fixtures in UEFA competitions unless the probationary conditions are violated. His availability for international duty with Argentina remains contingent on FIFA’s decision regarding the global extension of the ban.

UEFA emphasized that the sanction is part of its ongoing efforts to combat discrimination in football, reiterating its zero-tolerance policy for such conduct. The governing body confirmed the decision after reviewing evidence from the incident, which occurred during the Champions League play-off tie.

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