Prestianni was provisionally suspended by UEFA after allegedly racial abuse

UEFA have provisionally suspended Benfica winger Gianluca Prestianni for one match after he allegedly made a racist comment to Real Madrid forward Vinicius Junior.

UEFA have 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.

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".

Vinicius Jr initially refused to continue last Tuesday after the incident with Prestianni, who has denied the allegations.

The Real 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 his arms in front of his ⁠face, activating FIFA's anti-racism protocol and temporarily stopping the match.

Mourinho to avoid media before second leg

Sky Sports News understands Benfica manager Jose Mourinho will not 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 did not 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 does not have to speak to the media the day before the game.

Mourinho has been widely criticised for appearing to defend his player and club by questioning the way Vinicius celebrates goals in his post-match press conference in Lisbon.

"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."

Mourinho then appeared to comment on previous incidents in which Vinicius Jr has been subject to racist abuse in stadiums.

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 LaLiga 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.

'Prestianni facing 10-game ban'

Sky Sports News' Kaveh Solhekol:

UEFA have 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.

UEFA say the provisional ban is without prejudice, which means Prestianni can still expect a fair hearing.

Vinicius: Racists are cowards

Posting after the game in Portuguese on his Instagram story, Vinicius Jr wrote: "Racists are, above all, cowards.

"They need to put their shirts over their mouths to demonstrate how weak they are.

"But they have, on their side, the protection of others who, theoretically, have the obligation to punish. Nothing that happened here today was new in my life and my family's.

"I received a yellow card for celebrating a goal. I still don't understand why. On the other hand, just a poorly executed protocol that served no purpose.

"I don't like appearing in situations like this, even more so after a great victory and when the headlines have to be about Real Madrid, but it's necessary."