Benfica’s Prestianni suspended after alleged racist abuse of Vinicius
Gianluca Prestianni of Benfica has been suspended by UEFA after being accused of racially abusing Vinícius Júnior during a Champions League match. The incident reportedly happened after Vinícius Júnior scored, leading to a heated confrontation on the field. UEFA is still investigating the case, and further sanctions could follow. The situation has sparked renewed debate about racism in football.
Match highlights
- UEFA provisionally suspended Gianluca Prestianni from the next club competition match after the alleged incident.
- The alleged racist abuse occurred during the first-leg encounter between Benfica and Real Madrid, which Real Madrid won 1-0.
- The referee paused the match for about 10 minutes to address the incident, invoking UEFA’s anti-racism protocol.
- Vinícius Júnior accused Prestianni of using a racist slur, while Prestianni denied it and claimed he used a homophobic insult instead.
- Benfica has expressed support for Prestianni as the investigation continues and prepares to challenge or mitigate the sanction.
