He covered his mouth. He denied it. Then he confessed—but with a twist that would change everything.
UEFA has banned Benfica winger Gianluca Prestianni from playing in six games after he admitted to using a homophobic slur against Real Madrid star Vinícius Júnior during a Champions League playoff match in February. The decision has finally put an end to one of the most violent events in European football this year, but for many, it raises more questions than it answers. UEFA has handed Benfica winger Gianluca Prestianni a six-match ban after admitting he directed a homophobic slur at Real Madrid superstar Vinícius Júnior during a Champions League playoff tie in February. The ruling has finally brought a conclusion to one of the most explosive incidents of the European football season, but for many, it raises more questions than it answers.
The Night It All Started
It was February 17 at the Estádio da Luz in Lisbon. Benfica had just scored the first goal in their Champions League playoff against Real Madrid. Things were heating up on the field. Vinícius Júnior, a Brazilian forward for Real Madrid and one of the most famous faces in the sport, confronted Prestianni in the second half and accused the 20-year-old of calling him a name.
Players surrounded the match officials and demanded action, stopping the game for 11 minutes. Cameras caught Prestianni covering his mouth with his shirt many times, but investigators couldn’t figure out what word he was saying by lip-reading.
Not “Monkey,” but “Maricón.”
Vinícius said the word sounded like “mono,” which is Spanish for “monkey” and a racial slur. But when UEFA launched a formal investigation, a very different story emerged.
Sources told ESPN that Prestianni told UEFA that he had not said “mono” at all, but rather “maricón,” a homophobic slur that is common in Argentine and Spanish slang. Real Madrid midfielder Aurélien Tchouaméni backed up parts of the story by saying that Prestianni had told him during the argument that he hadn’t used the racial term.
The admission was very important for UEFA’s disciplinary body. The charge changed from racism to anti-gay behavior, which changed the way the sentence was set up completely.
The Punishment—And Why Critics Are So Angry
On Friday, UEFA confirmed the punishment and broke it down like this:
- One match already served as a temporary suspension in February.
- Two more games remain in the UEFA club competition.
- Three matches on hold for two years, but only if Prestianni breaks the law again.
In real life, the Argentine winger will only miss two more games, which many anti-discrimination activists have called woefully insufficient.
If the charge had been proven to be racist, UEFA’s Article 14 rules would have required the player to be banned for at least 10 games. Critics say that by admitting to homophobic abuse instead, Prestianni got a lighter sentence and showed that football’s governing body unfairly treats different types of discrimination.
Benfica’s Appeal Was Denied Again
The Lisbon club has tried to fight back before. Benfica quickly appealed after UEFA handed them a temporary one-match suspension in February, before the second leg at the Bernabéu. They were quickly and firmly turned down.
On Friday, the club issued a short three-line statement: “Sport Lisboa e Benfica announces that UEFA has notified it of the sanction imposed on the player Prestianni for using anti-gay language.” “No, sorry.” No more details. Benfica made it clear that this issue is over for them.
Vinícius: Still Waiting for Real Justice
The verdict will be hard for Vinícius Júnior to take. The 25-year-old has been at the center of some of the most publicized racism fights in football for years. He has heard monkey chants from stands all over Spain, seen effigies burned outside stadiums, and been part of a long, tiring public campaign to get La Liga and UEFA to take abuse more seriously.
To now be at the center of a case that started with what he thought was a racial slur, but then turned into a case of homophobia, with the guilty party getting what many think is a token punishment, will feel very familiar. Once more, the system has moved slowly, reached an unclear conclusion, and handed out small punishments.
A Dream of the World Cup in Danger
Prestianni will have to deal with more than just the ban. The 20-year-old had recently earned his first senior cap for Argentina and had been quietly making a case for a spot on the country’s World Cup team later this year.
UEFA has officially asked FIFA to extend the suspension worldwide. This means the last two matches could take place in international football rather than club competition. If FIFA agrees, Prestianni’s dream of playing in the World Cup could be ruined at the worst possible time in his young career.
There has never been any doubt about the talent on the field. It might take a lot longer to rebuild its reputation.
