A few hours before the Champions League second leg at Real Madrid, the European Football Union (UEFA) rejected an objection from Benfica Lisbon against the provisional ban of professional footballer Gianluca Prestianni. The 20-year-old Argentine is therefore not allowed to play in the playoff second leg tonight (9 p.m./DAZN) in Madrid.
There has been an accusation of racism against Prestianni since the first game last Tuesday in Lisbon. The two Real professionals Vinícius Júnior and Kylian Mbappé raise this. The Benfica player is then said to have called Brazilian Vinícius Júnior a “monkey” after his goal in the 1-0 win and his subsequent celebration. Prestianni denies the allegations. In the scene he had pulled his jersey over his mouth.
UEFA clarified that the interim ban applies regardless of any decisions the UEFA disciplinary bodies may take following the conclusion of the ongoing investigation. The continental association cited a prima facie violation of Article 14 of the UEFA Disciplinary Code in connection with discriminatory behavior as the reason for the provisional ban.