FIFA Bans Prestianni for Racist Behavior Toward Vinicius Junior
Gianluca Prestianni covers his mouth while insulting Vinicius Junior. X/ @liberta___depre.
May 6, 2026 Hour: 10:44 am
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The Argentine player called Vinicius a ‘monkey’ and a ‘faggot.’
On Wednesday, the FIFA Disciplinary Committee extended the six-match ban imposed by UEFA on Argentine player Gianluca Prestianni for racist behavior toward Brazilian player Vinicius Junior.
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The Benfica player was punished for discriminatory conduct during the Champions League match against Real Madrid after calling Vinicius a “monkey.” He reported the incident to referee François Letexier.
UEFA sanctioned Prestianni on April 24 with a six-match ban, three of which were suspended for two years. He already served one match in the second leg at the Santiago Bernabeu on February 25.
FIFA confirmed the ban extension in accordance with Article 70 of its Disciplinary Code. This would affect Argentina’s first two matches in the 2026 World Cup if Prestianni is called up by Coach Lionel Scaloni.
Argentina, the reigning champion, will debut on June 16 in Kansas against Algeria and on June 22 against Austria in Dallas. Prestianni would be ineligible for both matches if he is included in the squad.
Referee Letexier activated UEFA’s anti-discrimination protocol, stopping the match for ten minutes. Since he did not hear the insult directly, he did not show a red card, following Rule 12 of the International Football Association Board (IFAB).
Prestianni denied using racist language and told Telefe that he called Vinicius a “faggot,” claiming that it is a common insult in Argentina. He rejected the accusation of racism and defended his behavior as having been “misinterpreted.”
The incident led to a unanimous decision by the IFAB on April 28: starting with the 2026 World Cup, covering one’s mouth to conceal discriminatory behavior will be punished with an automatic red card.
The case reflects the growing pressure from international bodies to eradicate discrimination in football, strengthen protocols, protect players and preserve the integrity of competitions.
teleSUR: JP
Source: EFE
