A UEFA provisional ban has sidelined Benfica winger Gianluca Prestianni for Wednesday’s Champions League second leg against Real Madrid after Vinicius Jr reported alleged racist abuse during last week’s meeting in Lisbon.
European football’s governing body confirmed the one-match suspension is temporary and subject to the outcome of a full investigation by an ethics and disciplinary inspector.
The decision means Prestianni will miss the return leg at the Santiago Bernabeu, even though the case remains unresolved.
When allegation becomes immediate consequence
The first leg was halted for 10 minutes after Vinicius alerted referee Francois Letexier to the alleged incident in the second half. Real Madrid’s players briefly left the pitch before play resumed.
UEFA said the provisional sanction was imposed because there was sufficient evidence to indicate a “prima facie violation” based on the information currently available.
In disciplinary terms, that threshold does not determine guilt. It signals that available evidence justifies interim action while a formal process continues.
UEFA added that further punishment could follow once the investigation is concluded and submitted to its disciplinary bodies.
Denial, appeal and limited time
Prestianni has denied racially abusing the Brazilian forward.
Benfica confirmed it will appeal the decision, though the club acknowledged the deadlines involved are unlikely to alter the player’s availability before Wednesday’s match.
In a statement, Benfica said it “regrets being deprived of the player while the process is still under investigation” and reaffirmed its commitment to combating racism and discrimination.
The club referenced its historical identity and figures such as Eusebio in reiterating its stance against discriminatory behaviour.
A wider disciplinary backdrop
The Lisbon fixture was already charged.
Vinicius, 25, had scored a standout goal before receiving a yellow card for celebrating in front of Benfica supporters. Benfica manager Jose Mourinho was later sent off and is suspended for the second leg. He will not address the media ahead of the Madrid tie, with assistant coach Joao Tralhao handling press duties.
UEFA’s provisional ban underscores a recurring tension in European competition: balancing the urgency of addressing alleged discrimination with the procedural safeguards of due process.
By acting before a final ruling, the governing body signals seriousness. By limiting the sanction to one match pending investigation, it leaves space for the outcome to reshape the case.
For now, the competitive impact is immediate. Prestianni is unavailable. The investigation continues. And the second leg will unfold under scrutiny beyond the scoreboard.
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