Prestianni gets six-match ban for homophobic conduct

Benfica winger Gianluca Prestianni has been given a six-game ban by Uefa for homophobic conduct during their Champions League knockout play-off match with Real Madrid in February.

The match at the Estadio da Luz in Lisbon was halted for 10 minutes after Real's Vinicius Jr accused Prestianni of racially abusing him.

Prestianni, 20, denied making a racist comment and said Vinicius misheard him. Real Madrid midfielder Aurelien Tchouameni said that Prestianni told him he had in fact directed a homophobic comment towards the Brazil forward.

Argentina's Prestianni will be banned for two further games, having already served a provisional one-match ban, with the other three suspended for two years.

European football's governing body Uefa has made a request to its world counterpart Fifa to extend the ban worldwide.

Vinicius had put Real 1-0 up in the second half against Benfica, before being booked for an excessive celebration.

Following an interaction with Prestianni, 25-year-old Brazilian Vinicius ran over to referee Francois Letexier while gesturing towards the opposition player. Letexier then made the crossed arms gesture, which was introduced by Fifa in May 2024, to signal racist abuse.

Vinicius then walked off the pitch and was followed by his Real Madrid team-mates. After the match he wrote on his Instagram account: "Racists are, above all, cowards."

Prestianni would have faced a minimum 10-match ban from European competition if he had been found guilty of racist abuse.

Benfica defended their player following the incident, claiming there was a "defamation campaign" against him, adding they "fully support" and believe his version of events.

However, coach Jose Mourinho said Prestianni's career under him would be "over" if the abuse was proven.

Two weeks later, Fifa president Gianni Infantino said players who cover their mouths when speaking to opponents during confrontations should be sent off.

Football's rule making body the International Football Association Board (Ifab) has already agreed to look at measures to stop players hiding what they might be saying to an opposition player.

The result all feels a bit unsatisfactory.

Prestianni was accused of making a racist remark, which carries a mandatory 10-game ban.

But he will serve half of a six-match ban for using a homophobic slur.

Despite admitting it. And despite causing a Champions League game to be suspended, with the images beamed around the globe.

It gives the impression that homophobic abuse is being treated far less seriously than racism. Which, culturally in football, it always has been.

Uefa struggled to reach the threshold of the burden of proof to ban Prestianni for racism, with the Benfica player covering his mouth with his shirt.

On that point, just look at the fall out.

Ifab, football's lawmakers, is exploring ways to punish players who cover their mouths.

Fifa president Gianni Infantino said players should be sent off. He wants this applied at this summer's World Cup - and it is expected to be discussed at Fifa Congress on 30 April.

At least by applying to Fifa to extend the suspension worldwide it should effectively rule Prestianni out of the World Cup.

The winger only made his international debut for Argentina in November, and it is unlikely they would select a fringe player carrying a two-game ban.

But if Argentina do not pick him, and he stays at Benfica, the two games he would miss are Champions League or Europa League qualifying round matches.

With one cap it is was highly unlikely that Prestianni would have gone to the World Cup anyway, so the perception will be that he's got away with minimal punishment.