FIFA Extends Prestianni’s Ban Worldwide Over Alleged Racism Incident
World football governing body FIFA has extended the suspension of Gianluca Prestianni to a global level, following disciplinary action initially handed down by UEFA.
The SL Benfica winger was originally issued a six-match ban—three of which were suspended—over discriminatory conduct during a heated clash with Vinícius Júnior in a UEFA Champions League play-off first-leg encounter against Real Madrid on February 17.
The incident drew widespread attention after Vinícius accused the 20-year-old Argentine of racist remarks during an on-field confrontation. Television footage showed Prestianni speaking while covering his mouth, after which the Brazilian forward reported the matter to the referee. The match was briefly halted for about 10 minutes.
In a statement, FIFA confirmed that its Disciplinary Committee had enforced the ban globally in line with Article 70 of its disciplinary code, meaning the sanction now applies across all competitions and jurisdictions.
Prestianni, who has denied the allegations, has already served one match of the suspension, missing the second leg of the Champions League play-off.
The ruling could have major implications for his international career, with the young winger now set to miss Argentina’s opening two matches at the upcoming FIFA World Cup scheduled to be held across the United States, Canada and Mexico from June 11 to July 19.
The development marks another high-profile case in football’s ongoing battle against racism, with global authorities under increasing pressure to enforce stricter sanctions and ensure accountability across all levels of the game.
