UEFA has upheld the provisional one-match suspension of Gianluca Prestianni after dismissing an appeal from Benfica, ensuring the Argentine will miss the decisive return leg against Real Madrid.
The sanction follows a complaint by Vinicius Junior over alleged racial abuse during last week’s 1–0 first-leg defeat in the Champions League knockout round play-offs. Prestianni has denied the allegation.
UEFA confirmed that its Appeals Body found sufficient grounds to maintain the suspension, describing the case as supported by a prima facie assessment of the available evidence. The ban remains provisional, pending the outcome of a full investigation by an ethics and disciplinary inspector. Further sanctions could be imposed depending on the findings.
Prestianni had travelled with the squad and trained at the Santiago Bernabéu on Tuesday in the hope that the appeal would succeed. That prospect ended when UEFA formally rejected Benfica’s challenge, ruling him out of Wednesday’s fixture in Madrid.
The first leg was marred by tension after the match was halted for approximately ten minutes when Vinicius and several Real Madrid players left the pitch in protest. The interruption cast a shadow over the contest and has since intensified scrutiny on UEFA’s disciplinary process in cases involving alleged discriminatory conduct.
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The Brazilian forward also received a yellow card during the match for celebrating in front of Benfica supporters after scoring the winning goal. Benfica manager Jose Mourinho, who is serving a suspension for the return leg, criticised the celebration as provocative and suggested it inflamed tensions. His remarks drew a sharp response from former Real Madrid midfielder Clarence Seedorf, who rejected the suggestion that on-field behaviour could justify abuse.
Real Madrid goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois also addressed the issue, stating that no circumstance warrants discriminatory language and urging greater responsibility within the sport.
The controversy now hangs over what should have been a defining Champions League encounter. With UEFA’s investigation ongoing, attention will shift to events on the pitch, even as disciplinary proceedings continue behind the scenes.
