UEFA have confirmed their final decision following the heated clash between Gianluca Prestianni and Vinicius Junior during a Champions League encounter.
The incident took place on February 17, when tensions escalated to the point that the match had to be halted for 10 minutes.
Vinicius Jr accused the Benfica winger of racist abuse, which immediately sparked a formal investigation. However, the case developed in a different direction as proceedings continued.
Gianluca Prestianni denied using any racist language and maintained that he had been misheard during the exchange.
He admitted instead to using a homophobic slur, which shifted the focus of UEFA’s disciplinary action. That admission has now shaped the final outcome.
UEFA have handed Prestianni a six-match ban for homophobic conduct, bringing the investigation to a close.
The punishment includes a provisional one-match suspension, which he already served during the second leg in Madrid.
As a result, the winger will now miss two additional matches in UEFA competitions, including the Champions League, Europa League or Conference League.
The remainder of the sanction will not apply immediately. Three of the six-match suspensions will be for a period of two years.
It means they will only come into effect if Prestianni commits another offence during that time. UEFA have also taken further steps to extend the reach of the punishment.
They have contacted FIFA to request that the suspension apply to international competitions as well. That decision could have a major impact on the player’s immediate future.
If FIFA approve the request, Prestianni could miss Argentina’s opening two matches at the 2026 World Cup.
Argentina will take on Algeria on June 17 before playing Austria five days later. They will then conclude their group stage campaign against Jordan on June 28.
Having made his senior debut last November, Gianluca Prestianni will now face an anxious wait over his availability for the tournament.
🚨 Gianluca Prestianni has been banned for six UEFA club and/or national team games for “homophobic conduct” following a report from Vinicius Jr.
Punishment comes from the UEFA Control, Ethics and Disciplinary Body.
Three of the matches are subject to a probationary period of… pic.twitter.com/pdaaocWyq0
— Ben Jacobs (@JacobsBen) April 24, 2026
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