The 2025-26 UEFA Champions League knockout playoff encounter between Real Madrid and Benfica, the first leg hosted at Estadio da Luz, came into headlines not because of the wonder goal scored by Vinicius Jr that led the Los Blancos register a revenge taking 1-0 win after they lost to Eagles 4-2 in the dramatic final league phase game at the same venue that snapped their automatic qualification chances but for the alleged racism incident towards the goalscorer. Following the goal that came five minutes into the second half, a brawl broke out between the two sides, with the home team seemingly getting provoked by Vinicius’s goal celebration. Amid the chaos, Benfica’s Gianluca Prestianni said something to the Brazilian pulling his shirt over his mouth that forced the goalscorer to leave the pitch in protest with the referee halting the game as per protocol of a racism complaint.
The incident drew mixed reactions worldwide from players, managers, staff and fans of both sides and the neutrals, with UEFA forced to launch an investigation. Now, with the matter yet to come to a conclusion, the European footballing body took another major step ahead of both facing each other again for the second leg at Santiago Bernabeu. As per Cadena SER, UEFA were concerned that a meeting between Vinicius and Prestianni again would not be in good taste and that the two might not shake hands during the opening protocol, which the board saw as damaging to the competition’s image. Hence, the option of sanctioning Prestianni for the second leg was weighed up by UEFA, even if the quick disciplinary action was not in line with typical timelines for disciplinary bodies.
UEFA Statement on Gianluca Prestianni’s suspension
On 23rd February 2026, a day before UEFA provided confirmation that Gianluca Prestianni had been suspended for the second leg game against Real Madrid. The provisional suspension has been notified to Benfica today, while the investigation into the racism case with Vinicius Jr continues. While it did not come as a usual suspension protocol from the governing body, the gravity of the situation compelled them to take such a quick, firm and decisive stance. UEFA released a statement which reads:
“Following the appointment of a UEFA Ethics and Disciplinary Inspector (EDI) to investigate allegations of discriminatory behaviour during the UEFA Champions League 2025/2026 Knock-out Play-off match between SL Benfica and Real Madrid CF on 17 February 2026, and upon request of the EDI with an interim report, the UEFA Control, Ethics and Disciplinary Body (CEDB) today decided to provisionally suspend Mr. Gianluca Prestianni for the next (1) UEFA club competition match for which he would otherwise be eligible for the prima facie violation of Article 14 of the UEFA Disciplinary Regulations (DR) related to a discriminatory behaviour. This is without prejudice to any ruling that the UEFA disciplinary bodies may subsequently make following the conclusion of the ongoing investigation and its respective submission to the UEFA disciplinary bodies."
Benfica statement in reaction to Prestianni’s suspension
Benfica maintained their stance that there was no incident involving racism towards Vinicius Jr and made no change to their position upon learning that Prestianni has been handed a one-match ban for the second leg against Real Madrid by UEFA amid the investigation. The club released a statement in reaction to their player’s suspension:
"Sport Lisboa e Benfica has taken note of UEFA’s decision to provisionally suspend its player, Gianluca Prestianni, for one match, in connection with the ongoing investigation regarding the incident that occurred in the game against Real Madrid. The club regrets being deprived of the player while the process is still under investigation and will appeal UEFA’s decision, even though the timing is unlikely to have any practical effect for the second leg of the Champions League play-off.
Sport Lisboa e Benfica also reaffirms its unwavering commitment to combating any form of racism or discrimination, values that are part of its historical identity and are reflected in its daily actions, in its global community work, through the Benfica Foundation, and in major figures in the club’s history, such as Eusébio."
