S.l. Benfica and s.l. benfica player Prestianni react to UEFA provisional suspension

Gianluca Prestianni publicly reacted after UEFA declined to lift a provisional one-match suspension that kept him out of the Champions League return against Real Madrid, posting a sharp rebuke on social media and then deleting it minutes later. The suspension — challenged by s. l. benfica — remains in place while a formal investigation continues.

Prestianni's deleted social post

The 20-year-old answered a supporter on social media, lamenting an apparent double standard in disciplinary decisions and calling the situation "É uma vergonha!" He contrasted an alleged off-the-ball blow that went unpunished with his own provisional sanction for an alleged racist incident involving Vinícius Júnior, writing that punishment "without proof" was being applied. The message was removed roughly half an hour after it was posted.

S. l. Benfica appeal and reaction

The club lodged an appeal intended to overturn the provisional suspension so Prestianni could feature in the playoff second leg against Real Madrid, but the effort did not succeed before the match. The club had also filed a complaint about a separate in-game incident involving another player, but that matter was archived by the governing body, which cleared that player to participate in the tie while Prestianni remained sidelined pending the inquiry.

s. l. benfica investigation and possible outcomes

UEFA's disciplinary process placed an inspector in charge of investigating allegations of discriminatory behavior stemming from the derby match on 17 February 2026. The Control, Ethics and Disciplinary Committee imposed a provisional one-match suspension for the next UEFA competition in which Prestianni would have been eligible to play. The committee described the move as preliminary and not final; the case will proceed through the investigation and any subsequent disciplinary hearings.

Prestianni had already given testimony during the inquiry period and missed a recent domestic match because of accumulated yellow cards. If the investigatory process ultimately finds a violation of the disciplinary code on discriminatory behavior, the formal sanction could grow substantially from the single provisional match — a higher suspension is explicitly possible under the regulations governing international club competitions.

Short-term impact and forward look

With the provisional suspension active, the immediate practical effect was Prestianni's absence from the playoff return. The investigatory timetable and any later disciplinary rulings will determine whether the player faces a longer ban that would affect additional European fixtures. If the inspector's findings lead to formal charges, disciplinary hearings will set the final penalty; conversely, if the inquiry does not sustain the allegation, the provisional measure would remain a temporary action taken during the investigation.

Key takeaways:

• Prestianni posted then deleted a public complaint after UEFA maintained a provisional one-match suspension.
• The club appealed the suspension but did not secure an immediate lift before the playoff return.
• The disciplinary process is ongoing; a finding of guilt could result in a significantly longer ban, while the current suspension is labeled preliminary.