NYON, Switzerland (AP) 鈥� UEFA said on Monday it has provisionally suspended Benfica player Gianluca Prestianni for one match following accusations he racially abused Vin铆cius J煤nior.
The decision means that Prestianni will miss Wednesday鈥檚 second leg of the Champions League playoff between Real Madrid and Benfica. Madrid won the first match in Lisbon last Tuesday with Vin铆cius scoring a second-half winner for a .
The game was halted for nearly 10 minutes after the Brazil forward scored and celebrated by the Benfica corner flag, upsetting local fans and players. After being confronted by Prestianni, Vin铆cius accused the Argentine player of calling him 鈥渕onkey.鈥�
Prestianni has 痴颈苍铆肠颈耻蝉.
The anti-racism protocol was activated but no further action was taken during the match as there was no evidence against Prestianni, who covered his mouth with his shirt while talking to 痴颈苍铆肠颈耻蝉. The Madrid forward was shown a yellow card after his celebration.
UEFA said the decision from its control, ethics and disciplinary Body (CEDB) is related to a discriminatory behavior.
鈥淭his is without prejudice to any ruling that the UEFA disciplinary bodies may subsequently make following the conclusion of the ongoing investigation and its respective submission to the UEFA disciplinary bodies,鈥� it said in a statement.
FIFA President Gianni Infantino said after the match he was 鈥渟hocked and saddened to see the incident of alleged racism鈥� and praised the referee for activating the anti-racism protocol.
Benfica for Prestianni, with the Portuguese club claiming that Madrid players who said they heard the insult were too far away. Benfica later released a statement saying it welcomed UEFA鈥檚 investigation and that it 鈥渇ully supports and believes the version presented鈥� by Prestianni, 鈥渨hose conduct while with the club has always been guided by respect鈥� toward everyone.
Benfica fans had reacted angrily to Vin铆cius celebrating his 50th-minute goal by dancing at the corner flag, throwing bottles and other objects toward the Madrid players. Prestianni then confronted Vin铆cius and said something while covering his mouth with his jersey.
Prestianni insisted that Vin铆cius misunderstood what was said, while Benfica players after the match reportedly said the Argentine provoked the Brazil forward but never racially insulted him.
Kylian Mbapp茅 was among the Madrid players who strongly defended Vin铆cius and : 鈥淒ance, Vini, and please never stop. They will never tell us what we have to do or not.鈥�
The France star also said Prestianni should never play in the Champions League again.
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