The racism row between Gianluca Prestianni and Vinicius Jr. isn't over. Not by a long shot apparently. Benfica aren't taking the incident lying down. This is especially true when considering the provisional one match suspension handed down to the player.
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Gianluca Prestianni has been provisionally suspended by UEFA for Benfica's Champions League game against Real Madrid on Wednesday following allegations he racially abused Vinicius Junior.
The 20-year-old was banned for one match, while an investigation into alleged racism directed at the Real Madrid forward continues, which could lead to further punishment, UEFA said.
UEFA has taken an immediate procedural step while the wider case continues, issuing a provisional one match suspension for Prestianni, which Benfica have said they will appeal. The provisional ban doesn't settle what was said but it signals that UEFA is treating the allegation as serious enough to warrant interim action while evidence is gathered and assessed.
First, it changes the factual question UEFA must answer. VinĆciusā complaint has been treated publicly as an allegation of racist abuse; while Prestianniās reported account reframes it as discriminatory language of a different kind. UEFA is effectively being asked to determine not just whether abuse occurred but the specific nature of it.
Second, it shapes the disciplinary framing. UEFAās process and potential sanctions depend on what can be proven under the disciplinary code and reporting has repeatedly noted the possibility of a lengthy ban if discriminatory abuse is established. With a provisional suspension now already applied, the eventual ruling will carry added scrutiny because the competition has already moved ahead with a tangible sporting impact.
So, UEFAās investigators are trying to reconcile multiple tracks at once: VinĆciusā allegation; Prestianniās alleged wording; what match officials reported on the night and any corroboration through testimony and available audio-visual evidence. The provisional ban makes the urgency obvious but the final decision still hinges on proof and process rather than public noise.
A statement from UEFA read: "The UEFA Control, Ethics and Disciplinary Body (CEDB) today decided to provisionally suspend Mr. Gianluca Prestianni for the next (1) UEFA club competition match for which he would otherwise be eligible for the prima facie violation of Article 14 of the UEFA Disciplinary Regulations (DR) related to a discriminatory behaviour."
"This is without prejudice to any ruling that the UEFA disciplinary bodies may subsequently make following the conclusion of the ongoing investigation and its respective submission to the UEFA disciplinary bodies. Further information about this matter will be made available in due course."
Gianluca Prestianni has travelled with the Benfica squad for Wednesday's Champions League tie against Real Madrid as club president Rui Costa said he is "not racist" following an allegedly racist comment to Vinicius Jr..
Costa was speaking to the media ahead of Benfica's second leg of their Champions League play-off against Real Madrid and added they would not, "permit a racist player within the squad."
UEFA has opened an investigation into allegations of "discriminatory behaviour" during Real's Champions League knockout play-off first leg and, upon the request of UEFA's Ethics and Disciplinary Inspector, Prestianni will miss the second leg while the investigation is ongoing.
Vinicius Jr. initially refused to continue last Tuesday after the incident with Prestianni, who has denied the allegations.
The Madrid forward had just given his side the lead - after which he celebrated in front of the Benfica fans, for which he was booked - when he was confronted by Prestianni; who pulled his shirt up over his mouth before saying something to the Madrid forward.
Vinicius Jr. ran to speak to the match referee, Francois Letexier, who immediately stopped the game. The referee responded by crossing āhis arms in front of his ā face, activating FIFA's anti-racism protocol and temporarily stopping the match.
Benfica say they will appeal Prestianni's temporary suspension "even though the timelines in question mean it's unlikely to have any practical effect on the second leg."
Sky Sports News' Kaveh Solhekol said, "He has flown with the Benfica squad to Madrid, even though he is suspended.
"Benfica said they were appealing against his provisional one-match suspension, although they admitted it was unlikely that the appeal would be dealt with by UEFA in time for him to have any chance of playing on Wednesday."
"They have taken an unusual step. There is more to it as well. Could it be Benfica and Jose Mourinho sending out a message to say they are standing with their player?"
"Is there time for Benfica to appeal and for it to be overturned? I don't think there is. Benfica think there is a small chance of it happening."
That would mean he could play against Madrid - and Vinicius Jr - if Benfica are successful in their appeal.
It's understood Benfica manager, Jose Mourinho, won't speak to the media before Wednesday's second leg, with his assistant, Joao Tralhao, carrying out his media duties instead.
Mourinho was sent off during the game after being shown two yellow cards, meaning he didn't have to speak to the media afterwards and is suspended for the return leg at the Bernabeu; where his side will need to overturn a 1-0 deficit to stay in the competition.
UEFA's Champions League regulations state that a manager who is suspended doesn[t have to speak to the media the day before the game.
Mourinho was roundly criticised for his comments about the incident after the game.
The Portuguese coach appeared to suggest Vinicius had brought any abuse upon himself with his celebration and said that "a stadium where Vinicius plays, something happens, always."
"I told him, when you score a goal like that you just celebrate and walk back. They [Vinicius and Prestianni] told me different things. But I don't believe in one or another. I want to be an independent," Mourinho told Amazon Prime following the first leg.
"When he was arguing about racism, I told him the biggest person [Eusebio] in the history of this club was black. This club, the last thing that it is, is racist."
Anti-discriminatory organisation, Kick It Out, responded by accusing Mourinho of "gaslighting."
The Brazilian has spoken out multiple times against racism he has been subject to inside stadiums. In June 2024, three Valencia fans were jailed for eight months for racially abusing him during a La Liga game the previous year, in the first verdict of its kind in Spain.
"There is something wrong because it happens in every stadium," said Mourinho. "A stadium where Vinicius plays something happens, always."
Mourinho was seen speaking to a visibly upset Vinicius Jr. and a member of the Benfica coaching staff was shown a red card during the lengthy stoppage. After a number of discussions between players, coaches and the referee, play then resumed.
Real Madrid held on to win but there was a further short delay late in stoppage time when fans threw objects as Vinicius Jr. was attempting to take a corner kick.
UEFA has moved very quickly to suspend Prestianni. They appointed an ethics inspector last Wednesday to look into allegations that Prestianni had racially abused Vinicius Jr. the previous evening.
The inspector has already spoken to the relevant parties and forwarded an interim report to UEFA's disciplinary body, recommending Prestianni is suspended for one game while the disciplinary process continues.
The inspector believes there is prima facie evidence that Prestianni has broken UEFA's regulations on discriminatory behaviour, which carries a minimum 10-game ban.
Real Madrid goalkeeper, Thibaut Courtois, said Vinicius Jr's celebration against Benfica in last week's Champions League tie in Portugal "does not justify a suspected act of racism."
Vinicius alleged he was racially abused by Benfica's Gianluca Prestianni shortly after scoring a stunning goal that earned the Spanish side a 1-0 win in the knockout round first-leg encounter.
Argentine winger Prestianni denied racially abusing Vinicius but has been handed a one-game provisional ban by UEFA and will miss Wednesday's return in Madrid.
Vinicius was shown a yellow card for celebrating in front of the Benfica supporters after his strike. Speaking after the game, Benfica boss, Jose Mourinho, said he believed the Brazilian forward had acted disrespectfully and incited the crowd.
"Unfortunately [he was] not just happy to score that astonishing goal. When you score a goal like that, you celebrate in a respectful way," added Mourinho.
When asked about the comments from his former Chelsea manager, Courtois said: "Mourinho is Mourinho and, as a coach, you'll always defend your club. But it bothers me that Vinicius' celebration is being used against him."
"Vini didn't do anything bad. He celebrated the same way many rivals have celebrated against us. It happened, and we can't justify a suspected act of racism because of a celebration. I think we have to be less stupid as a society."
Mourinho, who is suspended for the second leg at the Bernabeu following his dismissal later in the match, said he was told different things by Vinicius and Prestianni regarding the incident.
Courtois refused to be drawn on comments from Benfica president, Rui Costa, who said Prestianni "is not racist" and deserves the club's trust after "being crucified" but reiterated his support for his own team-mate.
"Vini has never said anything like that, so I'm 100% sure he heard it," said the Belgian. I believe him completely. Since he's keeping quiet, we'll never know for sure but there's not much more we can do."
The tie was halted for 10 minutes after Vinicius alerted referee Francois Letexier to the incident, before his team-mates temporarily left the pitch. Courtois said Real were prepared to "stand their ground" but agreed to complete the game after Vinicius said he wanted to continue.
There were also reports of racist gestures in the stands at Estadio da Luz. "The other things that happened in the stands, in my opinion, warrant stopping the match and kicking those people out," added Courtois.
"As footballers, we don't see everything but it happens when we're focused on the game. There have to be people in charge who see that. There's a Benfica security guard who's two metres away and he has to act. We can keep improving in these areas...and stop being so foolish."
"We have a great opportunity to mark a turning point in the fight against racism," he said. "UEFA, which has always been and has led this fight against racism, now has the chance not to leave it at just a slogan, at just a nice banner before matches, and I hope that they seize this opportunity."
BBC Sport columnist, Guillem Balague, says it is "all down to the victim" when allegations of racism occur. "The minimum you should get is a bit of empathy instead of being blamed," Balague said on the Euro Leagues show.
"It was all down to him, all down to the victim, so he said let's play. Is he comfortable? I'm sure he would like to play football but there's a fire in him saying he's got to do that."
"He gets asked to behave by white men. He is willing to fight twice as hard until we all get it."
The French official will file his report to UEFA, which will now complete its own investigation into the events in Lisbon.
Kick It Out chair, Sanjay Bhandari, told BBC Sport that it is difficult to find a solution that would be effective and just. "It is the least bad of a set of terrible options," Bhandari said of the game being stopped for a short time.
"I don't think anyone feels really happy with it and I think everyone feels dissatisfied with it. But I don't think anyone's been able to come up with an alternative that's better."
Bhandari said the three-step protocol has "not been invoked a huge number of times" but when it has, it has provided a "quite healthy debate."
It was used in the Premier League in the first match of this season at Liverpool by referee, Anthony Taylor, when Antoine Semenyo said he had been racially abused by a fan in the crowd during Bournemouth's game at Anfield.
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In 2013, UEFA drew up its "European football united against racism," external policy.
It was driven by Gianni Infantino who, at the time, was the general secretary of the governing body. The document created 11 resolutions which set out the responsibilities of players, coaches, clubs and supporters.
Infantino successfully pushed for a suspension of "at least 10 matches" for players found guilty.
In 2021, Slavia Prague's Ondrej Kudela was banned for 10 matches after racially abusing Rangers midfielder, Glen Kamara. The crossing of arms to display an "X" is not part of the UEFA protocol. FIFA introduced this in 2024 to makes all participants aware why a match had been halted.
The governing body seems to want to prevent a similar controversy that arose when Luis Suarez refused to shake Patrice Evra's hand when Liverpool travelled to Manchester United in the Premier League in 2012.
That game came after Suarez had served an eight-match ban after being charged by the FA for racially abusing Evra at Anfield. He was also fined Ā£40 000.
Reports in Spain state that UEFA fear it would be damaging for a similar incident to occur between Vinicius and Prestianni and have now broken tradition to hand the Benfica man a provisional ban as they continue their investigation.
Madrid midfielder, Aurelien Tchouameni, also told reporters that the Benfica player had claimed to have used a homophobic slur in the immediate aftermath of the match.
Madrid star, Trent Alexander-Arnold, said the scenes were 'disgusting' post-match. Mourinho claimed Vinicius had incited his players by celebrating and that the Brazilian 'was not just happy to score that astonishing goal'.
"It should be the crazy moment of the game, an amazing goal in a good game... these talents are able to do these beautiful things but unfortunately he [Vinicius] was not just happy to score that astonishing goal and then the game was over. When you score a goal like that you celebrate in a respectful way."
When asked if Vinicius had 'incited' Benfica's players and fans with his exuberant celebration, Mourinho said: "Yeah, I believe so. The words they exchange, Prestianni with Vinicius, I want to be independent. I don't comment about it."
Mourinho was seen speaking with Vinicius and Mbappe during the lengthy pause in play and revealed what he had told the Brazilian.
"I told him that when you score a goal like that you just celebrate and walk back," he added. "And then, when he was arguing about racism, I told him the biggest person in the history of this club was black. This club, the last thing it is is racist, so if in his mind it was something in relation to that, this is Benfica."
"There is something wrong because it happens in every stadium. Every stadium that Vinicius plays [in] something happens. Always. I'm saying that it was a good 50 minutes of football, millions of people watching around the world, a crazy goal and then game over."
His comments left Amazon Prime pundits, Wayne Rooney, Clarence Seedorf and Theo Walcott stunned, with Seedorf saying the Portuguese had made a "big mistake."
"I think he [Jose Mourinho] is still emotional," said Seedorf. "I think he made a big mistake today to justify racial abuse and I'm not saying that was the case today but he mentioned something more than today."
"He said wherever he goes these things happen, so he's saying it's OK when Vinicius provokes you, that it is OK to be racist and I think that is very wrong."
UEFA says the provisional ban is without prejudice, which means Prestianni can still expect a fair hearing.
I believe this whole matter is being blown out of proportion. There really isn't a need for such a case going this far in public. In private, it's fine. The public can form their opinions once the results are released and relayed.
I do tend to agree with Courtois. Managers will always defend their players. Celebrating a goal in front of opposing fans doesn't give them a hall pass to do what they want. Players can celebrate in whatever manner they want; as long as it doesn't offend anyone.
Racism should be outlawed and given severe punishments if found guilty.