UEFA has handed Benfica winger Gianluca Prestianng a six-match suspension following discriminatory conduct deemed homophobic during a Champions League clash against Real Madrid, according to aljazeera.com.
The decision, announced Friday, targets the Argentinian attacker for verbal abuse directed at Real Madrid forward Vinicius Jr. The disciplinary action includes a three-match suspension that is subject to a two-year probationary period, the outlet reported.
Prestianni has already served a one-match provisional suspension. The remaining two matches of the effective ban must be served in UEFA or FIFA-sanctioned Argentina national team matches, according to a statement from Benfica.
The incident in February
The disciplinary proceedings stem from a Champions League playoff first-leg match held in February. During the game, which Real Madrid won 1-0, the match was suspended for 11 minutes after Vinicius took the lead.
Television footage from the match captured Prestianni repeatedly covering his mouth with his shirt before making comments. While the player denied using a racial slur, Real Madrid's Aurelien Tchouameni stated that the Argentinian winger directed a homophobic comment toward Vinicius instead.
Prestianni previously claimed that Vinicius had misheard him during the encounter. However, UEFA's ruling confirms the conduct was discriminatory.
UEFA also confirmed it will request FIFA to extend the suspension to a worldwide scale. The disciplinary measure follows the second leg of the knockout playoff on February 25, a match Real Madrid won 2-1 to progress in the competition.
Prestianni's international career is in its infancy, having made just one appearance for the Argentina national team as a substitute against Angola in November.
