Benfica winger trains in Madrid despite UEFA ban

Gianluca Prestianni trained with his Benfica teammates at Real Madrid’s Bernabeu stadium on Tuesday despite serving a provisional suspension over an alleged racist incident. 

The 20-year-old winger has been handed a one-match ban by UEFA and is set to miss Wednesday’s Champions League play-off second leg against Real Madrid in the Spanish capital. 

Benfica have lodged an appeal, although the sanction is unlikely to be lifted in time for the fixture.

The suspension relates to an allegation made by Real forward Vinicius Junior, who claimed he was racially abused by Prestianni shortly after scoring the only goal in Real’s 1-0 first-leg win in Lisbon. 

Prestianni has denied the accusation. The tie at Estadio da Luz was halted for 10 minutes after Vinicius alerted referee François Letexier, with Real’s players briefly leaving the pitch before the match resumed.

Real goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois said that Vinicius’ celebration in front of Benfica supporters did not justify any alleged racist abuse. 

He indicated that, while opposing managers would naturally defend their own clubs, it was wrong for the Brazilian’s celebration to be used against him. 

Courtois added that Vinicius had done nothing improper and had celebrated in a manner similar to other players, stressing that society should not attempt to excuse suspected racism on that basis.

Benfica manager Jose Mourinho had earlier suggested that Vinicius acted disrespectfully after scoring, saying that a goal of such quality should have been celebrated in a more restrained way. 

Mourinho, who will be suspended for the return leg following his dismissal in the first match, said he had been told differing accounts of the incident by Vinicius and Prestianni.

UEFA confirmed that Prestianni’s one-match ban was provisional and subject to a full investigation by an ethics and disciplinary inspector, with the possibility of further sanctions. 

Real head coach Alvaro Arbeloa said the case presented an opportunity for European football’s governing body to take a decisive stand, expressing hope that it would use the moment to reinforce its fight against racism rather than limit its response to symbolic gestures.