Benfica’s Gianluca Prestianni given six-game ban for conduct towards Vinicius Jr

By Jamie Gardner, Press Association Chief Sports Reporter

Benfica player Gianluca Prestianni has been given a six-match ban after being found guilty of homophobic conduct towards Real Madrid’s Vinicius Jr, with three of those suspended for a two-year period.

The ban also includes the one match Prestianni served as a provisional suspension in February, so unless he triggers the suspended three-match ban, he will only actually be sidelined for two further games.

Vinicius Jr alleged he was racially abused during the knockout play-off round match between the sides in Lisbon on February 17th.

UEFA appointed an ethics and disciplinary investigator after the match, with the investigation having concluded Prestianni’s conduct was homophobic rather than racist.

UEFA said it had requested that FIFA extend the ban worldwide.

It was reported in February that Prestianni had told UEFA he had used a homophobic slur rather than a racist one.

Vinicius left the field and refused to return after Prestianni’s comments, resulting in a stoppage in play that lasted 10 minutes.

The incident could yet spark a law change, with the International Football Association Board (IFAB) set to meet in Canada next week ahead of FIFA Congress to further consider how players are dealt with if they cover their mouths to talk to an opponent in a confrontation.

FIFA president Gianni Infantino said last month that a red card should result, telling Sky News: “If a player covers his mouth and says something, and this has a racist consequence, then he has to be sent off, obviously.

“There must be a presumption that he has said something he shouldn’t have said, otherwise he wouldn’t have had to cover his mouth.”

Article 14 of UEFA’s disciplinary regulations state that “any entity or person subject to these regulations who insults the human dignity of a person or group of persons on whatever grounds, including skin colour, race, religion, ethnic origin, gender or sexual orientation, incurs a suspension lasting at least 10 matches or a specified period of time, or any other appropriate sanction”.

UEFA has not published the reasoning of its Control, Ethics and Disciplinary Board (CEDB) in reaching the sanction announced for Prestianni.