UEFA Sidelines Prestianni Ahead of Real Madrid–Benfica Champions League Showdown

Story: Written by springnewsng February 24,2026
UEFA has provisionally suspended Gianluca Prestianni ahead of Real Madrid’s Champions League knockout playoff second leg against Benfica at the Santiago Bernabéu.
The decision follows an ongoing investigation into allegations made by Real Madrid forward Vinicius Junior, who claims he was racially abused by Prestianni during last week’s first-leg encounter in Portugal.
UEFA confirmed that its Control, Ethics and Disciplinary Body imposed a one-match provisional suspension after an interim report from its Ethics and Disciplinary Inspector cited a possible breach of Article 14 of UEFA’s disciplinary regulations, which relates to discriminatory conduct. The ruling is temporary and does not pre-empt the final outcome of the investigation.
Benfica, however, has reacted swiftly, announcing plans to challenge the suspension despite acknowledging that the appeal process is unlikely to affect the second leg in Madrid. The Portuguese club reiterated its firm stance against racism and discrimination, stressing that such values are deeply rooted in its history and institutional culture.
If found guilty, Prestianni could face a lengthy ban of up to 10 matches, a development that would represent a major setback for both the player and his club.
The alleged incident occurred shortly after Vinicius scored the decisive goal in the first leg. Referee Francois Letexier temporarily halted the match for 11 minutes as anti-racism protocols were activated, though Prestianni remained on the pitch when play resumed.
Following the game, Vinicius voiced his frustration on social media, criticising the handling of the situation and questioning the effectiveness of existing anti-racism measures.
As things stand, Prestianni will miss the decisive clash at the Bernabéu, while both Benfica and UEFA await the conclusion of the disciplinary process.