Gianluca Prestianni has been handed a six-match suspension by UEFA following an incident involving alleged discriminatory language directed at Vinícius Júnior during a Champions League play-off match in Lisbon.

UEFA confirmed the punishment was issued for “discriminatory conduct” during the game against Real Madrid, stating that the case involved homophobic insults.

According to the ruling, Prestianni is accused of using a Spanish slur towards Vinícius Júnior during the match. The governing body described the offence as serious enough to warrant a six-game European ban.

The suspension will apply to UEFA club competitions and can also extend to international duty with the Argentina national team. UEFA added that three of the six matches are suspended under a two-year probation period.

The statement also clarified that one match of the ban has already been served during the second leg of the tie between Benfica and Real Madrid at the Santiago Bernabéu.

On 17 February, during the first leg of a UEFA Champions League play-off at the Estadio da Luz, Real Madrid edged a 1-0 win over Benfica, a match that later became the centre of disciplinary controversy.

After scoring the only goal, Vinícius Júnior reportedly approached the referee to complain about alleged racist remarks made by Gianluca Prestianni. In response, French referee François Letexier halted the match and activated UEFA’s anti-racism protocol, with play resuming nearly 10 minutes later.

Following the game, Prestianni denied the accusations, while Vinícius and several Real Madrid players backed the claim that discriminatory language had been used.

UEFA later imposed a provisional one-match suspension while investigating the incident. Although Prestianni did not feature in the second leg at the Santiago Bernabéu—where Benfica lost 2-1 and were eliminated—he travelled with the squad.

With Benfica no longer competing in Europe, the remaining part of his six-match ban will be served if he is selected for international duty with the Argentina national football team, potentially impacting future fixtures including the 2026 World Cup.

Benfica have confirmed that Gianluca Prestianni has been handed a six-match suspension by UEFA for the use of homophobic language during the club’s match against Real Madrid.

In an official statement, Benfica said they had been informed of UEFA’s decision and clarified the details of the sanction. Prestianni’s ban includes six matches in total, with three of those suspended for a two-year probation period.

One match has already been served, meaning the remaining two must still be completed in UEFA competitions or, if applicable, during fixtures with the Argentina national football team in FIFA tournaments.

The punishment follows UEFA’s ruling that the player committed discriminatory conduct during the match, reinforcing the governing body’s strict stance on abuse and inappropriate language in European football.