UEFA HAMMERS PRESTIANNI! Benfica Star Hit With 6-Match Ban Over Vinicius Jr Slur Storm
European football was rocked on Friday as UEFA came down hard on Benfica winger Gianluca Prestianni, slamming him with a six-match suspension over discriminatory conduct against Real Madrid star Vinicius Jr in a Champions League clash that sparked outrage across the football world.
In a landmark disciplinary ruling, UEFA’s Control, Ethics and Disciplinary Body (CEDB) found the Argentine youngster guilty of homophobic conduct during Benfica’s explosive showdown with Real Madrid on February 17 in Lisbon.
The European governing body announced that three matches of the ban will take immediate effect, while the remaining three matches have been suspended for two years on probation, sending a stern warning against discriminatory behaviour in the game.
The punishment already includes the one-match provisional suspension Prestianni served during the return leg on February 25, meaning the Benfica winger is now set to miss two more competitive matches unless the suspended portion of the sanction is activated.
In a move that could widen the fallout, UEFA has also formally requested FIFA to enforce the ban worldwide, a decision that may stop the player from featuring in domestic league matches and international fixtures.
The case erupted after Vinicius Jr accused Prestianni of directing an offensive slur at him during Real Madrid’s tense 1-0 first-leg victory over Benfica, a match that was briefly halted following the incident.
UEFA’s ruling is being seen as one of the strongest recent disciplinary actions in European football, underlining its zero-tolerance stance on discrimination, abuse and intolerance on the pitch.
