Sport Lisboa E Benfica Left Without Prestianni for Real Madrid Clash After UEFA Upholds Provisional Suspension
The provisional ban that rules Gianluca Prestianni out of the Champions League return leg has been maintained, leaving sport lisboa e benfica short-handed and prompting a brief, deleted social-media protest from the 20-year-old forward. The decision stands while a disciplinary inquiry into alleged discriminatory conduct continues.
Sport Lisboa E Benfica: what changed and why it matters
The disciplinary authority declined to revoke the one-match provisional suspension applied to Prestianni ahead of the high-profile fixture with Real Madrid. Benfica lodged an appeal seeking to make the player available, but the appeal did not alter the provisional measure. The club expressed disappointment at losing the player for the upcoming match and confirmed it would pursue the appeal process further.
The provisional measure was taken following the appointment of an ethics and discipline inspector to investigate allegations arising from the previous meeting between the two clubs. The ruling is explicitly preliminary and does not predetermine the final outcome of the disciplinary proceedings.
Player reaction, squad impact and procedural status
Moments after the disciplinary decision was announced, the 20-year-old attacker posted a public reaction on a social platform that criticized the handling of the matter, referencing an incident involving another player and suggesting unequal treatment. He removed the post within roughly half an hour. The club had also filed a complaint about the other on-field incident, but that separate case was archived, and the other player was cleared to participate in the fixture.
Prestianni had already been unavailable for a recent domestic match due to accumulation of yellow cards, compounding the club’s selection challenges. With the provisional suspension in place, the team must adapt its match-day roster for the continental return leg while disciplinary procedures continue in the background.
Process ahead: investigation, potential sanctions and what to watch
- An inspector was assigned to examine allegations from the prior match between the clubs; the provisional suspension was implemented pending that inquiry.
- If the ongoing investigation concludes a breach of disciplinary rules, the player could face a significantly longer suspension in international club competition, with penalties outlined in the disciplinary framework.
- The disciplinary decision that applied the provisional suspension is separate from any final ruling; the outcome will depend on the investigation's findings and subsequent disciplinary deliberations.
Club officials and supporters will closely monitor the timeline for the inquiry and any appeal rulings. For now, the immediate practical consequence is clear: Prestianni will not be available for the upcoming Champions League second-leg fixture, and the club must proceed without him.
Broader implications for squad management and messaging
The episode places the club's disciplinary and public-relations handling under scrutiny while the formal process plays out. The team has reaffirmed its stated commitment to opposing discrimination and indicated it will continue to engage with the disciplinary mechanisms. The player’s deleted public reaction underscores the sensitive mix of legal, sporting and reputational considerations that the club must manage in real time.
Recent updates indicate that details may evolve as the investigation and any subsequent disciplinary hearing progress. The provisional nature of the suspension leaves open the possibility of further measures depending on the final findings, but the immediate effect is that sport lisboa e benfica will contest the return leg without the suspended forward.
