Gianluca Prestianni: Benfica, Argentina winger to miss World Cup games as FIFA impose worldwide ban after Vinicius Junior abuse

Gianluca Prestianni's six-game prohibition for discriminatory behaviour towards Vinicius Junior has been extended worldwide by FIFA.

The disciplinary committee of football's world governing body have made the determination to widen Prestianni's prohibition imposed by UEFA, which initially applied to European competitions only.

Benfica winger Prestianni was archetypal punished successful April aft helium admitted utilizing homophobic connection towards Real Madrid's Vinicius Junior during a Champions League fixture successful February.

Vinicius had initially accused Prestianni of racially abusing him, but UEFA could not beryllium the radical insult which Prestianni denied.

The 20-year-old covered his rima with his garment earlier speaking to Vinicius, and IFAB - football’s rule-making sheet - person since confirmed that specified an enactment volition beryllium a reddish paper discourtesy astatine the World Cup, pursuing a petition from FIFA.

Prestianni would person faced a minimum 10-game prohibition from European contention if helium had been recovered blameworthy of racist abuse.

Instead, Prestianni is banned for six matches, 3 of which are suspended for a two-year period, portion 1 was already served arsenic a provisional suspension successful February.

Unless the winger triggers the suspended three-match ban, helium volition lone beryllium sidelined for 2 games successful total.

Prestianni acceptable to miss Argentina’s opening 2 World Cup games

Following FIFA’s determination to marque Prestianni's prohibition worldwide, helium volition beryllium forced to miss Argentina’s opening 2 World Cup matches astatine the 2026 tournament, if helium is selected successful Lionel Scaloni’s squad.

Argentina volition statesman the defence of their satellite rubric erstwhile they look Algeria successful their opening Group J fixture connected June 17, earlier taking connected Austria 5 days later.

The South American giants, who bushed France connected penalties successful the 2022 World Cup final, volition reason the radical signifier against Jordan connected June 28, a crippled which Prestianni would beryllium eligible for if selected successful the nationalist squad squad.

Prestianni has lone earned 1 elder planetary headdress for Argentina, which came successful a 2-0 affable triumph implicit Angola successful November 2025.

The winger besides received a call-up by Scaloni during March’s planetary break, but helium did not diagnostic play successful friendlies against Mauritania and Zambia.

At nine level, Prestianni has played 39 times for Jose Mourinho's Benfica crossed each competitions this season, scoring 3 goals, providing 5 assists, receiving 12 yellowish cards and 1 reddish card.