UEFA suspends Benfica’s Prestianni ahead of Real Madrid second leg

Real Madrid Hosts Benfica in Charged Champions League Second Leg Amid Racism Investigation

Real Madrid will welcome Benfica to the Santiago Bernabéu on Wednesday for the second leg of their Champions League knockout playoff, carrying a 1-0 lead from a first leg in Lisbon that was overshadowed by allegations of racial abuse, a managerial red card, and a UEFA investigation that has already produced a provisional suspension.

The match promises to be one of the most fraught Champions League encounters in recent memory, with Benfica needing to overturn their deficit while missing both their suspended manager José Mourinho and winger Gianluca Prestianni, the player at the center of the racism controversy.

The Incident in Lisbon

The first leg on February 17 at the Estádio da Luz was halted for roughly 10 minutes after Vinícius Júnior scored the match’s only goal in the 50th minute and then accused Prestianni of directing a racist slur at him. Television footage showed the 20-year-old Argentine covering his mouth with his shirt before making remarks that Vinícius and several Real Madrid teammates said included the word “mono” — Spanish for monkey.espn

Kylian Mbappé was among the most vocal witnesses. “He pulled his jersey up to here to say that Vini is a monkey five times. I heard it,” Mbappé told reporters, adding that Prestianni “does not deserve to play anymore in the Champions League”. Midfielder Aurélien Tchouaméni also said he heard the slur used multiple times.reuters

Prestianni denied the accusations in an Instagram post after the match, writing: “I want to clarify that at no time did I direct racist insults to Vini Jr, who regrettably misunderstood what he thought he heard”. However, sources told ESPN that Prestianni subsequently admitted to UEFA investigators that he used the Spanish anti-gay slur “maricón” rather than a racial epithet.nytimes

Vinícius responded on social media: “Racists are, above all, cowards. They need to cover their mouths with their shirts to show their weakness”.rte

UEFA Acts Before the Second Leg

UEFA appointed an ethics and disciplinary inspector to gather evidence shortly after the match, and on Sunday imposed a provisional one-match suspension on Prestianni for a “prima facie” breach of Article 14 of its disciplinary regulations, which covers discriminatory behavior. If found guilty following the full investigation, the Argentine faces a ban of up to 10 matches.nytimes

Benfica announced it would appeal the suspension but acknowledged the procedural timeline made it unlikely to affect the second leg. The club said it “regrets being deprived of the player while the process is still under investigation” and reaffirmed its “unwavering commitment to combating all forms of racism or discrimination”.espn

Mourinho Missing at the Bernabéu

Adding to Benfica’s difficulties, Mourinho will be absent from the touchline after receiving a red card in the 86th minute of the first leg. The Benfica manager was sent off for protesting when referee François Letexier declined to issue Vinícius a second yellow card for a challenge on Richard Ríos. Assistant Joao Tralhao will take charge of media duties and the team on match day.caughtoffside

Real Madrid manager Álvaro Arbeloa described the second leg as “a final,” with his side looking to confirm their place in the Round of 16. The hosts will again be without forward Rodrygo, who is completing a two-match Champions League suspension.fotmob