Benfica’s Prestianni gets six-match ban after incident with Vinícius Jr
Gianluca Prestianni of Benfica has received a six-game suspension from UEFA after an incident involving Vinícius Júnior during a Champions League play-off. The controversy began when Vinícius Júnior accused the 20-year-old winger of racial abuse, which Prestianni denied. Later, Aurélien Tchouaméni stated that Prestianni admitted to making a homophobic remark instead. The case has sparked debate about the consistency of punishments for discriminatory behaviour in football.
Match highlights
- Gianluca Prestianni was banned for six matches by UEFA after an incident with Vinícius Júnior during a Champions League knockout play-off.
- The match was temporarily halted after Vinícius Júnior accused Prestianni of racial abuse, but Prestianni denied the allegation.
- Aurélien Tchouaméni revealed that Prestianni admitted to making a homophobic remark at Vinícius Júnior.
- UEFA’s sanction includes two matches to be served immediately, three suspended for two years, and one already served provisionally.
- The case has reignited debate over disciplinary standards, with some critics saying the punishment for homophobic abuse is more lenient than for racist conduct.
