Gianluca Prestianni — Benfica winger banned for homophobic conduct directed at Vinicius Jr during a February Champions League match, with suspension extended to World Cup matches.
Verbatim sentences from the source article.
The Chronicle
… During their second meeting – the first leg of their knockout phase play-off – Real players alleged that Benfica’s Gianluca Prestianni racially abused Vinicius, resulting in the match stopping for around eight minutes. …
Mourinho told Vinicius Jr ‘not worth’ leaving RealJoy Online
… The issue of players covering their mouths became high profile in February when Benfica winger Gianluca Prestianni raised his shirt while speaking to Real Madrid’s Vinicius Jr during a Champions League game. …
Uefa president boycotts World Cup final in protest against FifaJoy Online
… The issue of players covering their mouths became high profile in February when Benfica winger Gianluca Prestianni raised his shirt while speaking to Real Madrid’s Vinicius Jr during a Champions League game. …
UEFA will not use red cards for players who cover mouthJoy Online
… This will now be a red card after the controversial incident involving Benfica winger Gianluca Prestianni and Real Madrid’s Vinicius Jr in a Champions League game in February. …
Goalkeeper tactical timeouts to be banned at World CupJoy Online
… Mourinho responded to allegations of racist abuse from Benfica’s Gianluca Prestianni directed at Vinicius by invoking Eusebio, arguing, clumsily, that a club whose greatest legend was a black man could not be racist. …
An iron fist joining a broken team: Inside Mourinho’s Real returnThe Ghanaian Times
Argentina winger, Gianluca Prestianni, faces the prospect of missing his country’s opening World Cup matches after FIFA extended his six-game suspension for homophobic conduct yesterday to have worldwide effect. …
FIFA extends Prestianni ban worldwide, threatening World Cup debutJoy Online
Benfica winger Gianluca Prestianni will miss Argentina’s first two matches of this summer’s World Cup if selected, as his ban for abusing Vinicius Jr has been extended worldwide. …
FIFA impose worldwide ban on Benfica’s PrestianniThe Ghanaian Times
… The issue of players covering their mouths became high profile in February when Benfica winger Gianluca Prestianni raised his shirt while speaking to Real Madrid’s Vinicius Jr during a Champions League game. …
FIFA accepts new laws ahead of World CupJoy Online
… His behaviour during the Gianluca Prestianni affair in the Benfica-Real Madrid Champions League encounter did not lose him fans at the Bernabeu, including the president. …
Why Mourinho could be Real’s ‘ultimate wildcard’Joy Online
… The issue of players covering their mouths became high profile in February when Benfica winger Gianluca Prestianni raised his shirt while speaking to Real Madrid’s Vinicius Jr during a Champions League game. …
Players who cover mouths face red card at World CupJose Mourinho told Vinicius Jr it was "not worth" leaving Real Madrid, and the Brazilian signed a six-year contract with the club after entering the final 12 months of his previous deal. Mourinho, appointed to a second stint as Real manager in June, said he advised Vinicius that he would only understand Real Madrid's value once he left it.
20 August 2026 · The Chronicle →
Jose Mourinho told Vinicius Jr it was "not worth" leaving Real Madrid, and the Brazilian signed a six-year contract with the club after entering the final 12 months of his previous deal. Mourinho, appointed to a second stint as Real manager in June, said he advised Vinicius that he would only understand Real Madrid's value once he left it.
20 August 2026 · The Chronicle →
UEFA president Aleksander Ceferin did not attend the World Cup final between Argentina and Spain in protest against FIFA decisions, citing issues including US President Donald Trump's intervention in a suspension case and other changes driven by FIFA president Gianni Infantino such as extended half-time shows and a proposed 64-team World Cup format.
21 July 2026 · Joy Online →
UEFA will not use the red card law for mouth-covering in confrontations across its competitions, despite approving the rule change. The decision comes after the Benfica-Real Madrid incident in February, where Gianluca Prestianni was banned for homophobic conduct, though UEFA referees may still show yellow cards if warranted.
2 July 2026 · Joy Online →
FIFA referees' chief Pierluigi Collina revealed that players will be prevented from going to the technical area to consult coaches when goalkeepers are injured at the 2026 World Cup. IFAB has also approved a request to change VAR protocol to review attacking fouls occurring before the ball is in play.
31 May 2026 · Joy Online →
Jose Mourinho is returning to Real Madrid 13 years after his previous stint, as announced by president Florentino Perez at a contentious press conference. The appointment aligns Mourinho's siege mentality and media-focused approach with Perez's worldview amid internal divisions in Madrid's dressing room.
13 May 2026 · Joy Online →
FIFA has extended Argentina winger Gianluca Prestianni's six-game suspension for homophobic conduct to have worldwide effect, meaning he could miss his country's opening World Cup matches if selected. The Benfica player was originally banned by UEFA for directing a slur at Real Madrid's Vinicius Jr during a February Champions League playoff clash.
7 May 2026 · The Ghanaian Times →
Benfica winger Gianluca Prestianni has received a worldwide ban for abusing Vinicius Jr, extending his UEFA six-match suspension to cover Argentina's first two World Cup matches if he is selected. The 20-year-old admitted to homophobic language towards Real Madrid's Vinicius during a Champions League match in February.
6 May 2026 · Joy Online →
FIFA and the International Football Association Board approved two law amendments in Vancouver: players who cover their mouths when speaking to opponents during confrontations or who leave the pitch in protest at referee decisions can now face red cards. Both changes have been approved as competition opt-ins and will be adopted at this summer's World Cup.
30 April 2026 · The Ghanaian Times →
Real Madrid's manager Alvaro Arbeloa faces pressure after poor results, sitting closer to third-place than league leaders Barcelona with a 64% win percentage in La Liga. Jose Mourinho, currently managing Benfica, is being mentioned as a potential replacement, having previously managed Real Madrid from 2010 to 2013 and winning La Liga, the Copa del Rey, and the Spanish Super Cup.
28 April 2026 · Joy Online →
Fifa has approved two law amendments for this summer's World Cup: players who cover their mouths when speaking to opponents during confrontations may receive a red card, and players who leave the pitch in protest at a referee's decision can also face a red card. The changes were approved at a Fifa Council meeting in Vancouver.
28 April 2026 · Joy Online →