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UEFA has handed Benfica winger Gianluca Prestianni a provisional one-match suspension following allegations of racist abuse during last week’s Champions League clash. The report was filed by Real Madrid’s Vinicius Jr, leading to a ban that will see the
Argentine youngster miss Wednesday’s second leg in Madrid. The sanction is temporary while a UEFA ethics and disciplinary inspector completes a full investigation.
The European governing body said further punishment could be handed out once that investigation is completed.
Vinicius told referee Francois Letexier that he had been racially abused by the Argentina winger during the first leg of their Champions League knockout phase play-off tie in Lisbon last Tuesday.
Prestianni has denied racially abusing the Brazilian, and Benfica said they would appeal against the decision despite the belief it is unlikely to have any "practical effect" before Wednesday's game.
Last week's first leg was halted for 10 minutes after Vinicius alerted on-field official Letexier to the second-half incident, before he and his team-mates temporarily left the pitch. It came after Vinicius, 25, scored a stunning goal and then received a yellow card for his celebrations in front of the Benfica supporters.
Benfica manager Jose Mourinho, who is suspended for the second leg following his sending off later in the match, was criticised for his post-match comments after saying he believed that Vinicius had celebrated disrespectfully.
Uefa's action means that, as it stands, Prestianni will miss the second leg of the Madrid tie, even though the investigation is still to be completed.
European football's governing body said this is because there was enough evidence to support a "prima facie violation" based on the evidence available.
Responding to the sanction, Benfica said it "regrets being deprived of the player while the process is still under investigation".
The club added it would launch an appeal "even though the deadlines in question are unlikely to have any practical effect on the second leg of the Champions League play-off.”
Benfica also reaffirmed its commitment to combating all forms of racism and discrimination, values which it said "are part of its historical identity and are reflected in its daily actions, its global community, the work of the Benfica Foundation, and major figures in the club's history, such as Eusebio".
