Benfica has failed in its urgent bid to overturn the provisional suspension of winger Gianluca Prestianni, confirming that the 20-year-old Argentine will be absent for Wednesday’s decisive Champions League play-off second leg against Real Madrid. The sanction stems from an alleged incident of racial abuse directed at Real Madrid forward Vinicius Junior during the first meeting in Portugal last week.
Controversy Erupts in Lisbon
The flashpoint occurred in the first half at the Estádio da Luz when Prestianni, speaking directly to Vinicius, appeared to pull his shirt up over his mouth. The Real Madrid star immediately complained to referee François Letexier, prompting the official to activate UEFA’s anti-racism protocol. The match was halted for approximately ten minutes as a result.
Despite the ongoing investigation, the Lisbon giants have publicly backed their player. Prestianni maintains that the Brazilian superstar simply misheard his comments. Manager José Mourinho initially dismissed the allegations, controversially stating after the final whistle that the club was incapable of racism due to the heritage of club icon Eusébio. The Portuguese coach’s remarks drew sharp rebukes from anti-discrimination groups and football pundits across Europe.
A bizarre twist emerged on Tuesday when Portuguese media reported that Prestianni’s defense team would argue that the language used was homophobic, not racist, alleging it was a response to being taunted by Vinicius about his stature. This distinction, however, offers little legal respite, as homophobic slurs fall squarely under UEFA’s disciplinary code and carry similarly severe penalties.
UEFA Stands Firm
The appeal against the temporary ban was reviewed and swiftly dismissed by European football’s governing body. In a terse statement released on Tuesday, UEFA confirmed: “The appeal lodged by SL Benfica is dismissed. Consequently…Mr. Gianluca Prestianni remains provisionally suspended for the next UEFA club competition match for which he would otherwise be eligible.”
The decision ensures Prestianni will be relegated to the stands or the dressing room for the crunch tie at the Santiago Bernabéu. The young winger, who was an unused substitute in Benfica’s weekend domestic win, did take part in the team’s training session at the iconic Madrid stadium on Tuesday evening.
Madrid Urges UEFA to Make a Stand
The incident has united the Real Madrid camp, with several players publicly voicing support for Vinicius. Manager Álvaro Arbeloa, stepping in for the suspended Carlo Ancelotti, has leveraged the pre-match press conference to call for action, framing the situation as a litmus test for the sport’s authorities.
“We stand at a crossroads with a real chance to create a significant shift in the battle against racism,” Arbeloa stated. “UEFA has always positioned itself as a leader in this fight. Now they have the opportunity to demonstrate that it is more than just words or a pre-match ceremony. I truly hope they seize this moment.”
Arbeloa, however, was keen to steer the focus back to the pitch. “Our priority, our obsession, is to prepare for the game. We want to deliver a top-tier performance, do things the right way, and secure victory. That is where all our energy is invested. The rest, frankly, is a matter for the governing bodies. That responsibility lies with UEFA, not with us.”
