UEFA has officially suspended Benfica young star Gianluca Prestianni just before their big game against Real Madrid.
The suspension comes after an investigation was launched into claims of "discriminatory behavior" directed at Real Madrid’s Vinicius Junior during last week's match.
During the first leg on February 17, 2026, Prestianni was accused of behaving in a discriminatory way. While UEFA hasn't shared exact details, an inspector was appointed to dig into the facts.
Based on an early report, UEFA decided to ban Prestianni for at least one match. This means he will definitely miss the return leg on Wednesday.
This ban is "provisional," meaning it is temporary for now. Once the full investigation is over, he could face a much longer suspension or heavy fines.
The football body made it clear that they are taking this "prima facie" (on the face of it) violation very seriously as they look to kick discrimination out of the game.
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