UEFA has provisionally suspended Benfica winger Gianluca Prestianni for one match following allegations of discriminatory behaviour during his side’s Champions League playoff clash against Real Madrid. The decision means the Argentine youngster will miss the return leg at the Santiago Bernabeu, where Madrid carry a 1-0 advantage from the first leg in Lisbon.
The controversy erupted shortly after Vinicius Jr gave Real Madrid the lead early in the second half at Estadio da Luz. Moments later, the match was halted for 11 minutes after players alerted referee Francois Letexier to an alleged racist remark directed at the Brazilian forward. UEFA later confirmed that an Ethics and Disciplinary Inspector has been appointed to investigate the incident.
Television footage showed Prestianni covering his mouth with his shirt while speaking during the heated exchange. Vinicius and several Real Madrid players interpreted the comment as a racial slur. Letexier activated FIFA’s anti racism protocol, temporarily stopping play as stadium announcements were made.
Kylian Mbappe was seen confronting Prestianni on the pitch and was visibly angered by the situation. The French forward later told reporters he heard the alleged remark multiple times and described it as unacceptable at the highest level of European football. Midfielder Aurelien Tchouameni also supported Vinicius’ version of events.
Prestianni has denied the accusation, stating that Vinicius misunderstood what he believed he heard. Benfica released a statement backing their player while confirming they intend to appeal UEFA’s provisional suspension. However, with disciplinary timelines unlikely to be resolved before the second leg, Prestianni is expected to sit out Wednesday’s decisive fixture.
The incident has once again placed racism in football under the spotlight. Vinicius, who has previously spoken openly about experiencing racial abuse in Spain, addressed the matter on social media. He expressed frustration at what he described as a recurring issue throughout his career and called for stronger accountability.
The atmosphere inside the stadium also drew attention after broadcast images appeared to show some supporters making inappropriate gestures. Anti discrimination organisation Kick It Out criticised attempts to shift focus onto Vinicius’ goal celebration, calling such narratives harmful and dismissive of the core issue.
Adding to the tension surrounding the tie, Benfica coach Jose Mourinho will also be absent from the bench in Madrid after receiving a red card during the first leg for protesting decisions.
With Real Madrid aiming to protect their narrow lead and Benfica fighting to overturn the deficit, the buildup to the second leg has become as much about discipline and integrity as football itself. UEFA’s ongoing investigation is expected to determine whether further sanctions will follow once proceedings are complete.
