<figure id="attachment_3285486" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-3285486" style="width: 1600px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img loading="lazy" class="size-full wp-image-3285486" src="https://media.freemalaysiatoday.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/c81d3b93-afp__20250621__2221361392__v1__midres__slbenficavaucklandcityfcgroupcfifaclubworldcu_cropped_1.webp" alt="" width="1600" height="1000" /><figcaption id="caption-attachment-3285486" class="wp-caption-text">If UEFA finds that Gianluca Prestianni racially abused Vinicius Junior, he will be suspended for a minimum of 10 matches. (AFP pic)</figcaption></figure>
MADRID: Benfica midfielder Gianluca Prestianni will miss Wednesday&#8217;s Champions League play-off clash at Real Madrid after UEFA rejected his club&#8217;s appeal against his provisional suspension for alleged racial abuse.
Madrid star Vinicius Junior accused Prestianni of calling him a monkey during his side&#8217;s 1-0 win at Benfica last week in the first leg, which Prestianni denies.
UEFA are investigating the incident and provisionally suspended the 20-year-old for the second leg at the Santiago Bernabeu, pending the outcome.
&#8220;The appeal lodged by SL Benfica is dismissed. Consequently, the UEFA Control, Ethics and Disciplinary Body&#8217;s decision of 23 February 2026 is confirmed,&#8221; said UEFA in a statement on Wednesday.
&#8220;Mr. Gianluca Prestianni remains provisionally suspended for the next UEFA club competition match for which he would otherwise be eligible.&#8221;
If UEFA find that Prestianni racially abused Vinicius he will be suspended for a minimum of 10 matches.
The Argentinian held his shirt over his mouth while arguing with Vinicius, after which Madrid&#8217;s star told the referee he had been abused and the first leg was stopped for around 10 minutes.

MatchPoint Times

Benfica’s Prestianni suspension appeal rejected for Real Madrid clash

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