MADRID.- The end of the Benfica, Gianluca Prestianniwill miss the second leg of the playoffs of the European Champions League before him real Madridafter the UEFA rejected his club’s appeal against the Argentine’s precautionary suspension for racist insults.
The Brazilian star of Real Madrid, Viniciusaccused Prestianni of having called him a “monkey” during the Spanish team’s first-leg victory in Lisbon last week, something the Argentine denies.
UEFA, while investigating the facts, suspended the 20-year-old attacker for the match at the Santiago Bernabéu stadium in the Spanish capital.
“The appeal presented by SL Benfica is dismissed. Consequently, the decision of the UEFA Control, Ethics and Disciplinary Body of February 23, 2026 is confirmed,” indicated the European football body.
“Mr Gianluca Prestianni remains provisionally suspended for the next UEFA club competition match for which, but for such suspension, he would be eligible,” it added.
The Argentine covered his mouth with his shirt while arguing with Vinicius, after which the Brazilian told the referee that he was subjected to racist insults and the match was stopped for about ten minutes.
Man-U recovers profits
The English club Manchester Unitedone of the most prestigious football clubs on the planet, announced this Wednesday an increase in its operating profit, in a context of in-depth restructuring that even led to the elimination of jobs.
Operating profit in the first six months of fiscal year 2026 (July-December 2025) rose to 32.6 million pounds sterling (37.4 million euros/44 million dollars), while it presented negative figures during the same period of the previous year (-4.5 million euros).
Since the arrival in 2024 of the businessman Jim Ratcliffeowner of around 29%, the Old Trafford club made drastic cuts at all levels, after years of disappointing sporting results.
