UEFA has provisionally suspended Benfica winger Gianluca Prestianni for one match following allegations of racial abuse directed at Real Madrid’s Vinícius Júnior during their Champions League playoff match on February 17, 2026. The decision, announced Monday, stems from a preliminary investigation into the incident, which occurred during Real Madrid’s 1-0 victory in Lisbon.
The UEFA Control, Ethics and Disciplinary Body (CEDB) cited a violation of Article 14 of the UEFA Disciplinary Regulations, concerning discriminatory behavior, as the basis for the suspension. Prestianni allegedly covered his mouth while speaking to Vinícius after the Brazilian scored the winning goal, prompting the Real Madrid player to report the incident to referee François Letexier.
Real Madrid formally lodged a complaint with UEFA regarding Prestianni’s behavior, and the European football governing body appointed an ethics and disciplinary inspector to investigate the claims. The club stated Thursday that it had provided “all available evidence” to UEFA to support the allegations.
The incident sparked widespread condemnation, with Vinícius Júnior claiming he was called a “monkey” by Prestianni. Kylian Mbappé, Real Madrid’s forward, corroborated Vinícius’ account, stating he and other Benfica players overheard the alleged abuse. “He called him a monkey five times. I heard it and so did other Benfica players,” Mbappé said after the match.
UEFA emphasized that the suspension is provisional, pending the completion of a full investigation. “Here’s understood to be without prejudice to any decision that the UEFA disciplinary bodies may take subsequently following the conclusion of the ongoing investigation and its respective submission to the UEFA disciplinary bodies,” the statement read. A final decision is expected by Tuesday, ahead of the return leg scheduled for Wednesday, February 25.
Benfica’s coach, José Mourinho, was also absent from the touchline during the first leg after being ejected from the match. Mourinho downplayed the incident, describing both players’ accounts as conflicting and suggesting Vinícius’ celebration provoked the reaction. He stated, “Each one – Vini and Prestianni – says one thing,” and added, “It happens in so many stadiums, always with the same thing… There is something that is not right.”
FIFA President Gianni Infantino condemned the alleged racism, stating, “I was shocked and saddened to see the alleged racist incident towards Vinicius. There is no place for racism in our sport or in society; we need all parties to hold those responsible to account.” He praised the referee for activating the anti-racism protocol.
In Portugal, racist acts are criminalized under Article 240 of the penal code, carrying potential prison sentences starting at six months, depending on the severity of the offense. UEFA’s disciplinary code, Article 14, stipulates a minimum suspension of ten matches or a specified period for offenses involving insults to human dignity based on characteristics like race or color, though in this case, a one-match suspension was initially imposed.
