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UEFA suspends Benfica winger pending racism investigation
Gianluca Prestianni will miss Real Madrid's Champions League second leg after UEFA imposed a provisional one-match ban following allegations of racial abuse against Vinícius Júnior.
Incident in Lisbon sparks disciplinary action
The controversy erupted during last Tuesday's first-leg knockout tie at Benfica's Estádio da Luz. Vinícius, 25, reported being racially abused by the Argentine winger in the second half, prompting referee François Letexier to halt play for 10 minutes. The Brazilian forward and his Real Madrid teammates briefly left the pitch before resuming the match.
Vinícius had earlier scored a decisive goal, which he celebrated in front of Benfica supporters, drawing a yellow card. The incident escalated when Benfica manager José Mourinho, later sent off, criticized the celebration as disrespectful in post-match comments.
UEFA acts swiftly with provisional suspension
UEFA's ethics and disciplinary inspector found sufficient evidence to support a "prima facie violation" of discriminatory conduct, triggering the interim ban. The governing body stated the measure does not prejudice the outcome of its full investigation, which remains ongoing.
"This is without prejudice to any ruling that the UEFA disciplinary bodies may subsequently make,"
UEFA statement
The provisional ban mirrors UEFA's handling of a 2021 case, when Slavia Prague's Ondřej Kúdela received an interim one-game suspension for alleged racial abuse of Rangers' Glen Kamara. Kúdela was later banned for 10 matches after the charge was upheld.
Benfica to appeal despite limited impact
Benfica confirmed it would challenge the decision but acknowledged the appeal was unlikely to affect Wednesday's second leg at the Santiago Bernabéu (20:00 GMT). The club expressed regret over being "deprived of the player while the process is still under investigation" but reaffirmed its commitment to combating racism.
"These values are part of our historical identity and are reflected in our daily actions, our global community, and the work of the Benfica Foundation,"
Benfica statement
Prestianni has denied the allegations, while Mourinho's suspension for the second leg means assistant coach João Tralhão will handle media duties.
UEFA's rapid response draws praise and scrutiny
UEFA opened a disciplinary case against Prestianni within 16 hours of the incident and issued the provisional ban three working days later. The swift action aligns with its stated policy to address discriminatory behavior urgently, though critics question whether interim measures risk prejudging outcomes.
The governing body's decision underscores its zero-tolerance approach, particularly in high-profile competitions like the Champions League. The full investigation's findings will determine whether Prestianni faces further sanctions.
