FIFA has extended the suspension of Gianluca Prestianni worldwide after UEFA sanctioned the SL Benfica winger for discriminatory conduct during a Champions League match against Real Madrid CF in February 2026.
UEFA originally handed Prestianni a six-match ban — with three matches suspended on probation — following an incident involving VinÃcius Júnior. VinÃcius accused the 20-year-old of racist abuse during the match in Lisbon, while UEFA ultimately described the punishment as relating to homophobic conduct.
FIFA said its disciplinary committee extended the sanction globally under Article 70 of the FIFA Disciplinary Code after a request from UEFA. The ruling means the suspension will now apply not only in UEFA competitions but also in international matches worldwide.
As a result, if Prestianni is selected by Argentina national football team for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, he could miss the country’s first two group-stage matches. Friendlies and domestic Portuguese league games are not affected.
