Benfica’s Gianluca Prestianni has been handed a six-game suspension for homophobic conduct towards Vinicius Junior during his side’s Champions League game against Real Madrid in February.
The Champions League play-off contest between Benfica and Madrid in February was halted for 10 minutes when the Brazilian accused Prestianni of racially abusing him while covering his mouth with his shirt moments after he put the visitors in the lead in Lisbon.
Prestianni was handed a provisional one-match ban by UEFA for the reverse fixture.
He later denied that he aimed a racial slur at Vinicius Jr, instead claiming that he had covered his shirt with his mouth to use a homophobic insult towards the Madrid player.
A UEFA investigation has concluded it has suspended the 20-year-old Argentina international for six games, of which must be carried out in European competitions or with the national team ‘for discriminatory (i.e. homophobic conduct)’.
The Champions League play-off contest between Benfica and Madrid in February was halted for 10 minutes when the Vinicius Junior accused Prestianni of racially abusing him
Three of these matches is subject to ‘a probationary period of two years’ from Friday’s announcement, and includes the one-matach provisional suspension already served by Prestianni.
UEFA have also requested FIFA to ‘extend worldwide’ the suspension.
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