The UEFA clarifies that the suspension is provisional and does not prejudice future decisions, after the conclusion of the ongoing investigation and the assessment of the case by the disciplinary bodies. The sanction applied now therefore does not constitute the final decision on the racism allegation.
The case stems from complaints presented by the Brazilian forward Vinícius Jr., who accused Prestianni of insulting him with the term “mono” (monkey, in Spanish) during the match between Benfica and Real Madrid. The UEFA assured that the investigative process will continue to clarify all circumstances of the incident, which may result in additional measures depending on the conclusions.
Until now, Benfica has not officially commented on the decision of the European organization. The club and the involved players are waiting for the outcome of the investigation before commenting on the case.
