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Gianluca Prestianni faces World Cup ban after FIFA extends suspension worldwide

Posted : 07 May 2026

Gianluca Prestianni has been hit with a worldwide suspension extension that could see him miss the opening matches of Argentina’s World Cup campaign this summer if he is selected.

The FIFA decision follows disciplinary action originally imposed by UEFA, which handed the 20-year-old Benfica winger a six-match ban after he admitted using homophobic language towards Vinícius Júnior during a UEFA Champions League clash in February.

Prestianni has already served part of his punishment, including a provisional suspension, with additional matches still pending. UEFA initially suspended three of the matches for two years, depending on his future conduct.

Following a request from UEFA, FIFA has now confirmed that the sanction will apply globally, meaning it will also affect international competitions, including the World Cup.

The Argentine winger has limited international experience, having made just one senior appearance for Argentina national football team in a friendly against Angola in November 2025. He was also called up again in March but did not feature in either of Argentina’s friendly matches.

The case initially stemmed from an incident involving Vinícius Júnior, who accused Prestianni of racist abuse, a claim the Benfica player denied. Had he been found guilty of racism, he could have faced a significantly longer ban from European football.

If Prestianni is not included in Argentina’s final World Cup squad, the remaining suspension is expected to be served in next season’s European competitions, such as the Champions League or Europa League, with Benfica still fighting for qualification.

Separately, it has also been confirmed that covering the mouth during on-field conversations, as Prestianni did during the incident, could result in a red card offence at the World Cup under new disciplinary guidelines.

 

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