World football governing body FIFA has announced the global extension of a suspension handed to Gianluca Prestianni, following an earlier sanction imposed by UEFA.
The 20-year-old SL Benfica winger was initially banned for six matches—three of them suspended—over discriminatory conduct during the first leg of a UEFA Champions League play-off clash against Real Madrid on February 17.
The incident involved a confrontation with Madrid forward Vinícius Júnior, who accused Prestianni of racism during the match. The Argentine player has denied the allegation.
During the exchange, Prestianni was seen speaking while covering his mouth, after which Vinícius reported the incident to the referee. The match was subsequently halted for approximately 10 minutes.
In a statement, FIFA confirmed that its Disciplinary Committee had extended the sanction globally in line with Article 70 of its disciplinary code, meaning the ban will now apply across all competitions and jurisdictions.
Prestianni has already served one match of the suspension, having missed the second leg of the Champions League play-off.
The extended ban could also impact his international prospects, with the winger now at risk of missing Argentina national football team’s opening matches at the upcoming FIFA World Cup, scheduled to take place across the United States, Canada, and Mexico from June 11 to July 19.
The decision underscores FIFA’s continued efforts to enforce disciplinary measures globally, particularly in cases involving allegations of discriminatory behaviour.
