UEFA bans Benfica player, Prestianni for Champions League clash over Vinícius ‘Monkey’ slur probe
Abdullateef Fowewe
UEFA has provisionally suspended SL Benfica midfielder Gianluca Prestianni for one Champions League match amid an investigation into alleged discriminatory abuse toward Real Madrid’s Vinícius Júnior during their tense 2025/2026 Knock-out Play-off on February 17.
In an official statement on Monday, UEFA announced, “Following the appointment of a UEFA Ethics and Disciplinary Inspector (EDI) to investigate allegations of discriminatory behaviour, the UEFA Control, Ethics and Disciplinary Body (CEDB) today decided to provisionally suspend Mr. Gianluca Prestianni for the next (1) UEFA club competition match for which he would otherwise be eligible for the prima facie violation of Article 14 of the UEFA Disciplinary Regulations (DR) related to discriminatory behaviour.”
The ban ensures Prestianni will miss Benfica’s crucial return leg against Real Madrid, as notified to the club today.
The incident erupted in a post-goal confrontation, where Vinícius reported being targeted with “mono” – Spanish for “monkey,” a notorious racist slur.
Prestianni counters that he used an anti-gay slur instead, fueling UEFA’s swift ethics probe launched days ago.
UEFA emphasised the provisional nature of the decision, adding, “This is without prejudice to any ruling that the UEFA disciplinary bodies may subsequently make following the conclusion of the ongoing investigation.”
This move highlights UEFA’s zero-tolerance stance on discrimination under Article 14, with referee reports, footage, and witness accounts potentially leading to a longer ban.
