Gianluca Prestianni Faces FIFA Sanction
Gianluca Prestianni, a winger for Benfica, faces a significant setback as FIFA has officially broadened UEFA’s sanction against him, which now affects his potential participation in the upcoming World Cup in the United States. This ruling comes after UEFA determined that Prestianni should receive a six-match ban—three of which are probationary—due to his derogatory remarks aimed at Real Madrid’s Brazilian striker, Vinícius Júnior, during a Champions League match. This incident involved Prestianni obscuring his mouth with his jersey while hurling the insult, escalating the severity of the situation.
FIFA’s Official Statement
The FIFA Disciplinary Committee has decided to extend the six-match ban imposed by UEFA on Benfica player Gianluca Prestianni to have worldwide effect.
Consequently, if Prestianni is included in coach Lionel Scaloni’s squad, he will miss two group-stage matches, specifically against Algeria on June 17 in Kansas City and Austria five days later in Arlington, Texas. This group also features the nation’s competitor Jordan, participating in its first World Cup.
Prestianni’s International Career
Prestianni, only 20 years old, has seen limited action on the international stage, having made his debut in a friendly last November and remained an unused substitute for the recent warmup against Zambia. Whether he remains part of Argentina’s plans to defend their World Cup title is uncertain, as Scaloni did not reference the ongoing investigation during his March call-up, stating Prestianni’s inclusion was necessitated by Paulo Dybala’s absence.
Details of the Incident
The UEFA probe stemmed from accusations made by Vinícius Júnior, further endorsed by his teammate Kylian Mbappé, who alleged that Prestianni directed a racist slur at him, using the Spanish term for “monkey,” a claim Prestianni denied while admitting to producing an anti-gay slur. Having already served one match of his ban during a Champions League playoff against Madrid in February, he faces a challenging spell ahead.
New Regulations from IFAB
Additionally, a recent decision by IFAB, the ruling body for soccer laws, has introduced new regulations that would penalize World Cup players with a red card for covering their mouths while making insults. Should Prestianni not make it into Argentina’s final squad, he will be obligated to serve the remainder of his ban during the following UEFA season.
