Benfica winger who received a worldwide ban for homophobic conduct toward Vinicius Jr in February 2026.
Verbatim sentences from the source article.
The 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 CupArgentina thrashed Burkina Faso 7-0 in a friendly overshadowed by the African team's difficult journey: their private flight from Morocco was cancelled due to technical failure, they arrived just five hours before kick-off, and several senior players refused to travel citing fatigue, forcing them to field a young, inexperienced squad.
5 October 2026 · Joy Online →
Argentina thrashed Burkina Faso 7-0 in a friendly overshadowed by the African team's difficult journey: their private flight from Morocco was cancelled due to technical failure, they arrived just five hours before kick-off, and several senior players refused to travel citing fatigue, forcing them to field a young, inexperienced squad.
5 October 2026 · Joy Online →
Argentina thrashed Burkina Faso 7-0 in a friendly at Estadio Monumental, with the African visitors arriving just five hours before kickoff after a cancelled private flight from Morocco and fielding a young, inexperienced team after several senior players refused to travel citing fatigue.
5 October 2026 · The Ghanaian Times →
Real Madrid manager Jose Mourinho says winger Vinicius Jr is being bullied on the pitch and needs "great emotional control," after the Brazilian received a yellow card in a 2–1 La Liga win over Espanyol for an argument with an opponent. Mourinho claims opposing players target Vinicius Jr to provoke reactions from the first minute and that this pattern is repeated across all teams.
23 August 2026 · Joy Online →
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 →