UEFA Suspends Benfica Player Prestianni After Racist Slur Accusation

The Argentine forward faces a one-match ban following allegations of a racial insult directed at Vinicius Junior.

Published on Feb. 23, 2026

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The Union of European Football Associations (UEFA) has provisionally suspended Gianluca Prestianni, an Argentine forward for Benfica, for one match following accusations that he directed a racist insult at Vinicius Junior, the Brazilian star player for Real Madrid.

Why it matters

Incidents of racial abuse in European soccer have been an ongoing issue, with players like Vinicius Junior frequently targeted. UEFA's swift action to suspend Prestianni sends a strong message that such behavior will not be tolerated.

The details

According to UEFA, the suspension comes after Prestianni was accused of directing a racial slur at Vinicius Junior during a recent match between Benfica and Real Madrid. The incident is currently under investigation by European soccer's governing body.

  • The alleged incident occurred during a match between Benfica and Real Madrid on February 21, 2026.

The players

Gianluca Prestianni

An Argentine forward who plays for the Portuguese club Benfica.

Vinicius Junior

A Brazilian forward who plays for the Spanish club Real Madrid.

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What they’re saying

“We must take a strong stance against any form of racism in our sport.”

— Aleksander Čeferin, UEFA President (UEFA.com)

What’s next

UEFA will continue its investigation into the incident and determine if further disciplinary action is warranted against Prestianni.

The takeaway

This suspension highlights UEFA's commitment to addressing racial discrimination in European soccer and sends a clear message that such behavior will not be tolerated at the highest levels of the game.