FIFA Extends Sanction on Gianluca Prestianni for Discriminatory Conduct
The FIFA Disciplinary Committee has extended globally the sanction imposed by UEFA on Gianluca Prestianni, an Argentinian player for Benfica, due to his discriminatory conduct during a Champions League match against Real Madrid. The original six-match ban was imposed by UEFA at the end of April. The incident occurred on February 17, in the first leg of the round of 32, when Prestianni covered his mouth and addressed Real Madrid player Vinícius Júnior. The latter reported to the referee that the Argentinian had called him a “monkey”. FIFA confirmed that the extension of the sanction, requested by UEFA, is based on article 70 of its Disciplinary Code. Of the six-match ban, Prestianni has already served one, in the second leg match against Real Madrid at the Santiago Bernabéu on February 25. Three of the remaining matches are suspended for a probationary period of two years, according to the UEFA decision. The extension of the worldwide sanction by FIFA could affect Argentina’s first two matches in the next World Cup, in case Prestianni is called up by Lionel Scaloni. The matches would be against Algeria on Tuesday, June 16 in Kansas and against Austria on Monday, June 22 in Dallas. The April 24th incident led UEFA’s Ethics and Disciplinary Committee to sanction Prestianni with six matches for “discriminatory conduct.” This originated from the incident with Vinícius, where he covered his mouth to address the Brazilian striker. The match referee, François Letexier, stopped the game for several minutes after Vinícius’s complaint. However, the referee did not hear the alleged insult, so he did not apply the red card, according to the IFAB rules. The match resumed, ending with Real Madrid’s victory by 0-1. Prestianni initially denied having insulted Vinícius in a racist manner, but later admitted in an interview to having called him “faggot”.For Argentinians, it’s a normal insult. They call me a racist when I never was and never will be. For us Argentinians, it’s a normal insult to say ‘cagón’ or ‘maricón’
Gianluca PrestianniUEFA provisionally suspended Prestianni for the second leg against Real Madrid and ultimately sanctioned him with six matches, three of which are suspended. The incident also led IFAB to make a decision on April 28, establishing that players who cover their mouths to hide discriminatory behavior will be sanctioned with a red card starting from the next World Cup in the United States, Mexico, and Canada. The IFAB explained that, at the discretion of the competition organizer, any player who covers their mouth in a confrontation with an opponent may be sanctioned with a red card.
